RAYMOND J. LAUENSTEIN
ALTAMONT – Raymond J. Lauenstein, 79, died at home, surrounded by the love of his family, on Sunday January 29, 2017. Born Astoria Queens, 1937 and grew up in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. Only child of Mary Ellen Mahoney and Franklyn Raymond Lauenstein.
Graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School in Westchester (NY) in 1956, attended Fordham University.
Married his much loved wife, Anne Marie Durner , April 8, 1961 (St. Raymond’s Church, Bronx), who survives.
Drafted into the US Army September 1961 when the Berlin Wall was erected. Served in the US Army Signal Research and Development Group ostensibly to spy on Russian nuclear testing at Fort Monmouth NJ. Was on duty in the radio room during the Bay of Pigs invasion where he spoke on the phone with President Kennedy. He was honorably discharged from the service in September 1963.
Loving father of Francis Lauenstein (deceased), A. Cecilia Lauenstein (Ron Nadeau), Elizabeth Lauenstein, and Raymond Lauenstein, Jr. (Allison Wallach Lauenstein).
Proud and loving grandfather to Ryan and Audrey Nadeau and Sophie and Hannah Lauenstein. For several years Ray worked as an Insurance consultant for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and then for 15 years beginning in 1966 until 1981 he worked for Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals. While at Norwich Eaton, he progressed from sales representative to Director of Professional Services where he produced 60 medical teaching films in urology and OBGYN winning several Golden Eagle Awards for outstanding productions. Based on his work, he was made a voting member of the American Urologic Association in 1981.
With each promotion at Norwich Eaton, came a move for the family, finally settling in Norwich NY in 1974. It was in Norwich that he and his wife Anne, formed Culture Kits Inc., a medical diagnostic manufacturing business that sold to doctors, hospitals and colleges in all 50 states, which they successfully ran for 25 years until retiring in 2006.
For 15 years, Ray was a NYS certified high school football official and president of the Tri-Valley chapter of Officials. In addition, Ray was elected twice to the Norwich Board of Education and served four years as president. He was a member of Norwich Rotary for over 25 years, held several offices and hosted numerous exchange students. Ray was a longtime parishioner and lector at St. Paul’s Church in Norwich and served as vice president of Chenango Catholic Charities.
Ray was a huge sports fan and loved to travel with Anne all over NY and the east coast to cheer for his children and grandkids. His love of people was evident by the stories he told after trips to Europe, something he and Anne did as often as they could.
Upon retiring in 2006 Ray and Anne moved to Altamont, NY to be near children and grandchildren. In Altamont, Ray continued his affiliation with Rotary International as well as the Kiwanis International. He volunteered weekly at the Captain John J. McKenna IV Military Courtesy Room at Albany Airport, until illness forced him to retire. He was also an active parishioner, volunteer and lector at St. Lucy’s Church in Altamont and St. Matthews Church in Voorheesville.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family on Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 9:30 – 11:00 am in St. Matthew’s Church, 25 Mountainview Street, Voorheesville. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am in the Church. Interment will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands. Online condolences may be offered at www.danielkeenanfuneralhome.com.