Ray Oldenburg

Ramon “Ray” Oldenburg, PhD, 90, of Pensacola, FL passed away Monday, November 21, 2022.

Ray was the only child of Raymond and Grace Oldenburg of Henderson, MN. After High School graduation, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Mankato State Teachers College in 1954, and then entered the US Army serving two years in the Medical Corps in the South of France. He taught public school in Minneapolis, MN and in Round Rock, TX after which he entered Graduate School in Sociology at the University of Minnesota.

He held teaching positions at the University of Minnesota, Stout State University in Menomonie WI, the University of Nevada in Reno, and finally at the University of West Florida in Pensacola as a charter member of the faculty in 1967. Later in his career he also taught at the University of Klagenfurt in Klagenfurt, Austria. He retired from UWF in 2001.

Late in 1989, he published a book entitled The Great Good Place which was enthusiastically reviewed. Oldenburg accepted invitations to speak across the US and internationally. His research on the importance of physical surroundings has contributed to the revitalization of cities around the world. The Great Good Place is still in print today.

Oldenburg’s first book was a collection of satirical haikus called Frog Croaks, and he recently published The Joy of Tippling, a Salute to Bars, Taverns, and Pubs.

He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Judith Oldenburg; three children, Jennifer Dorris (Barry) of Johnson City, TN, Maren Creef (Tim) of Pensacola, FL, and Carl Oldenburg (Maggie) of Morgantown, WV; as well as 8 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held and announced at a later date (tentatively the end of December 2022) at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pensacola, FL.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorial contributions be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.