Raymond William Van Steen

Ray Van Steen, 89, of Frisco, Texas, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024. He was born on August 29, 1934 to William and Francis Van Steen, in the town of New Hyde Park, a New York City suburb on Long Island. As a child, Ray became fascinated by the sound pictures emanating over radio in in the form of dramas, comedies, adventure serials and variety programs. In his teen years, he spent time working at his Dad's sheet metal and machine shop, gaining a basic knowledge of mechanical skills. His first love, though, was still radio broadcasting. While in high school, Ray attained a staff position on the school-owned radio station, WSHS-FM in Floral Park, New York.

Ray went on to proudly serve in the United States Air Force. In 1952, Ray's mechanical aptitude qualified him for the Air Force's largest technical training school at Sheppard Air Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, where, at 18 years of age, he became one of the youngest instructors in the USAF. Still drawn to radio, however, Ray successfully transferred to the base radio station, KCVH-AM as a staff announcer. Overseas duty called, and Ray was sent to Germany as a staff writer for the Wiesbaden Post, a weekly newspaper distributed to the thousands of U.S. Military personnel and their families in that area. His love for radio kept calling him back and Ray was granted a transfer to the key station in nearby Frankfurt, of the seven station American Forces (Radio) Network (AFN), with affiliates in Bremerhaven, Kaiserslautern, Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Berlin. AFN, at that time, covered most of the continent and parts of the United Kingdom with transmitter power of 150,000 Watts, three times the limit in the U.S. It was during this time that Ray met and married his wife of 68 years, Edie, a local German girl, whom he married on March 24, 1956.

Returning to the U.S. and civilian life, Ray began his commercial radio career with a staff job at WSNY-AM in Schenectady, New York. A slot came available at WIRL-AM in Peoria, Illinois, where Ray was made production director. Ray and Edie eventually moved up to Chicago, so Ray could take another production job at WJJD-AM, and eventually became the production director at the ABC-owned WLS AM in Chicago. By this time, Edie and Ray had three children, and Ray was taking on more freelance voice-overwork on radio and TV commercials. Eventually, he became fully self-employed earning a living from acting and announcing assignments for such national sponsors as McDonald's, United Airlines, John Deere, Kellogg's, Allstate, Kleenex, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Quaker Oats, and many others. In a partnership with an engineering colleague, Ray became half-owner of Studio One, Chicago, a four facility production house, specializing in recording and producing radio commercials and TV sound tracks. Ray also narrated spoken-word record albums for Mercury Records, and wrote a regular column for SCREEN, a Midwest trade publication catering to the advertising, broadcast and performing industry. With Ray’s love for the advertising and broadcasting industry, he enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He taught an ongoing evening class for beginners, Voice-Over 101, and guided many novices into the on-mike business with private, one-on-one instruction. Edie and Ray retired in 2003, she from a social worker position with the Chicago school system. After a short stay in Bradenton, Florida, the couple moved to Dallas, where Ray hosted a weekly radio show of music and trivia from Golden Age movies. "Hooray For Hollywood," heard over KAAM-AM in Dallas, which lasted ten years.

Ray was a generous man, who loved doing for others. He was a loving husband and father, who adored his grandchildren. Although his work was his favorite hobby, Ray also enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles. He leaves behind a legacy love, dedication, and has instilled in all of the lives he touched that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. Ray will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.

In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey Van Steen, in 2013; sister, Helene MacPherson; and brother, William Van Steen. In addition to his beloved wife, Edie, Ray leaves behind daughter, Linda Exceli of Frisco, Texas; and son, Stewart Van Steen of Chicago, Illinois; grandson, Christopher; granddaughters, Kymberly and Elke; six great grandchildren; and sister, Christina Giordano of Albany, New York.

A Celebration of Life with military honors for Raymond will be held Friday, March 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Stonebriar Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 10375 Preston Road, Frisco, TX 75033. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.