Given a good prognosis when first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in mid-September, my brother Ray Slater passed away less than two months later by a MRSA infection while fighting his battle with cancer.
He leaves behind a wife, Jessica, and three children: Little Raymond, who turns 18 in a few days; Dreu, 14; and Ian, 10.
Ray did not have life insurance and, as regular, middle-class working people, his family is not prepared to handle the immediate costs of a funeral. All funds raised will help Jessica to pay for the funeral and will help this family to get back on their feet financially during a crisis that never should have happened.
The world lost a warm-hearted, generous man when Ray died. In addition to being a loving husband and father, he was also a passionate educator, teaching children with disabilities. He loved his students, and sometimes came home in tears over the injustices and hardships his students faced. He encouraged Jessica to go back to school, knowing that she would feel a sense of pride and have a brighter future of job prospects once she earned her college degree. (When Ray faced complications from the MRSA infection, Jessica took a temporary leave of absence from her studies at Rowan University, but will honor Ray’s commitment to her education and finish her degree in the future.)
Thank you for helping this beautiful family and honoring this great man who I had the privilege of calling my brother.