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Raymond Sanders Obituary
After a heroic battle with cancer, Ray died February 10, 2007 at home surrounded by his wife, Mary, and two children, Brett and Courtney, holding his hands.
Ray was born in El Paso, Texas on November 18, 1940. He attended high school in Peru and was the senior class valedictorian. He obtained his BA, MA, and PhD in Psychology from the University of Arizona. He was a Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Akron for over 30 years. Dr. Sanders taught undergraduate and graduate classes dealing with cognition, learning, and cognitive aging. Dr. Sanders was a good instructor, exhibiting expert understanding of the topic areas presented in his classes. He was a mentor for many students' honors, theses, and dissertation projects. Dr. Sanders was dedicated to conducting sound research and published many articles in top quality journals.
Ray loved sports and was a participant on almost every sports team in high school. He was a coach, assistant coach, and supporter of especially his children's soccer teams, and also other sports. He was an ardent cheerleader of his wife's tennis matches. For years, he and his two sons so enjoyed "football picks" for weekly NFL games.
Ray dearly, deeply (his words) loved his family. One of his favorite things to do was to relax at home with his family. Ray's family, especially his wife and children feel a profound loss and void with Ray gone. He lives on in our hearts always.
Preceded in death by his parents, Wilton (Louie) and Ellen (Rose) Sanders, he is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Mary; sons, Brad and Brett; daughters, Erica (Jeff) Mills and Courtney Sanders; twin brother, Earl (Margaret); sister, Eleanor (Chappie) Chaplin; and many nieces and nephews.
The Sanders family would like to extend a special thank you to Barbara Christe of the Hospice of VNS.
Services will be held 11:00 A.M. THURSDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. with Chaplain Sam Oliver officiating. Interment at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Raymond E. Sanders Research Scholarship Fund, c/o the Department of Psychology at the University of Akron, 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, OH 44325. (Billow Fairlawn Chapel)
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Raymond Sanders
Jennifer Verive
March 19, 2007
My deepest sympathies to Dr. Sanders' family. I have exceptionally fond memories of Dr. Sanders' graduate cog psych class--he made class funny and fun, no small feat with the subject matter. My time as a graduate student was significantly better because of him.
Linda Brown
March 5, 2007
Dear Mary and Family:
My memory of Ray was as a professor in grad school who was so excited about his students' learning. His enthusiasm and energy are things that I aspire to demonstrate in my own work and teaching. My most sincere sympathy for your loss.
Deidre Buchanan
February 23, 2007
My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. Dr. Sanders was one of my favorite Psychology Professors, and your family was one of my favorite families at King YSACC. My prayers are with you.
Les Balascoe
February 22, 2007
I did my graduate thesis under Ray in 1971 and have thought of him often over the years. He was kind, considerate, caring and a great instructor. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
valerie kortze
February 16, 2007
Dear Mary and family,
I just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and you have my deepest sympathy. May God comfort and keep you during this very difficult time.
Sincerely,
Val Kortze
Pam Mattiazzo
February 16, 2007
Dear Mary and Family,
I just want you all to know how often you are in my thoughts and prayers. I can only imagine what a difficult time this is for all of you.
Love, Pam Mattiazzo
Dan Svyantek
February 16, 2007
Dear Mary, Brett, & Courtney,
Frances, Martina, Andy and I were sad to hear about Ray's passing. Our kids, Martina and Andy, remembered Ray in a unique way- they remembered Ray and I discussing the relative merits of the Cowboys and the Packers!
We are very sorry for your loss.
Dan, Frances, Martina, & Andy Svyantek
Corey E. Miller, Ph.D.
February 15, 2007
A lot of what I learned from Ray in his graduate course has served me well in my own teaching. I know that Ray's teaching lives on in many of his students.
jan enright
February 15, 2007
Dear Mary, Brett and Courtney,
I am so sad to learn of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I hope all the happy memories will help you during this very difficult time.
Very Sincerely,
Jan Enright
Michael Keeney
February 15, 2007
My memories of Ray as one of my grad school professors at Akron was of a man who was consistently decent, understanding, and patient. Ray was a fine role model, mentor, and researcher. I am terribly sorry to hear this news and my wife and I send our condolences.
Jane Durbin
February 15, 2007
To Mary (Romito) and her daughter and her daughter's family in sorrow for the loss of Ray Sanders
Michelle Lumley
February 14, 2007
Mary, Courtney and Brett,
I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Please know that your family and friends are here for you. Allow our love to surround you and support you through this difficult time.
Jennifer Matas
February 14, 2007
Mary, my dear friend, I am so sorry. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and the kids. We've been through so much over the last 20 years, but this wasn't one of the things I ever envisioned. Right now I hope you can feel the loving arms of all those who care for and support you. I hope it help sustains you during this incredibly difficult time. You and Ray had a great love. That will never die.
Love,
Jennifer
John Vitina
February 14, 2007
Mary & family,
My deepest sympathy. As one of Ray's former graduate assistants, and as one who would not be a Psychologist today without his support as a major advisor and mentor, I will always be thankful for having known him. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tiffany & Diana Vetter
February 13, 2007
Mrs. Sanders, Courtney and Brett,
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you. We will keep you in our prayers.
Kevin K. Walsh, Ph.D.
February 13, 2007
Heartfelt condolences to Ray's family. As one of Ray's grad students in the 1970s he convinced the behaviorist in me that cognition really existed...and it's there that my fond memories of Ray will remain. He was one of the best!
Dontis family
February 13, 2007
Dear Mary, Courtney and Brett: Our love, prayers and thoughts are with you always. Our deepest condolences for your loss.
Bert Hayslip
February 13, 2007
Mary- I was one of the lucky students to have taken classes from Ray in the 1970s and he served on my dissertation committee. We often attended Ohio State football games together yearly. Ray was a role model for med- he had integrity, compassion, and was so supportive of his students. He was a great teacher, a serious scholar, and he had a great sense of humor. My thoughts go out to you and your children. Ray was a first class person who I will miss greatly.
Nancy Prysiazny
February 13, 2007
Mary, Brett, & Courtney,
Our thoughts, prayers and love are with you and all your family. Paul and Nancy Prysiazny
Frederick Schmitt, PhD
February 13, 2007
Ray will be missed by all of his students, family and friends. I would never have been able to survive academia without his insightful guidance, support, and teaching.
John Lanshe
February 13, 2007
To Mary, Brett and Courtney - the prayers of the Lanshe family are with you during this most difficult time. Simply put, Ray was a terrific guy - a wonderful family man who was down to earth with a great sense of humor. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Karen Lahovich
February 13, 2007
My deepest condolences to Mary, Brett and Courtney and the rest of your wonderful family. The Monday night tennis group has missed you and sends their thoughts and prayers. We are all so sorry for your loss.
Meredith Kalapich
February 13, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I greatly respected Dr. Sanders as a teacher and mentor. His intellect and his compassion will be missed.
taylor bowling
February 12, 2007
i would just like to say that im so sorry for your loss. brett and i have been friends for a long time and i hope he knows he has so many friends that are here if he ever needs anything. mr. sanders is in all of our hearts forever.
The Staff of Billow Funeral Homes
February 13, 2007
Offering our deepest condolences during this time.
Marguerite Tremelin
February 12, 2007
Our deepest condolences. We are thinking especially of Brett who we've known since kindergarten at King School, and Mary who I've enjoyed knowing as a fellow parent volunteer along the way. We are keeping all of you close at heart.
Elizabeth Kennedy
February 12, 2007
My sincere sympathy to Mary and the rest of Dr. Sander's family. It is with deep fondness that I recall my graduate work with Dr. Sanders. Please know he will be missed greatly by all his colleagues.
Maria Jones
February 12, 2007
My deepest condolences.
Bryan Pesta
February 12, 2007
Ray was a friend and a mentor. He was instrumental in my development as a researcher, and as a person.
Please accept our sympathies, but know that Ray's influence lives on in the many students whose lives he positively affected.
Bryan Pesta and family.
Julie Hicks Patrick
February 12, 2007
My heartfelt condolences. Ray was brilliant, and encouraged those of us he helped to train to strive for excellence.
Ellen Irwin Saal
February 12, 2007
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Dr Sanders was my professor when I was an undergraduate and I will never forget the amazing techniques he used in teaching us about cognition. My father was Brett's english teacher his freshman year. We want you all to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
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