Berlin – Raymond F. Schaefer, Jr., 69, of Ocala Fla, died peacefully at his home on September 1, 2022, after a long and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.
Born in North Adams, MA on May 9, 1953, he was the son of the late Raymond F. and Evelyn Gardner Schaefer Sr. Raised in Berlin, NY, Ray was a 1972 graduate of Berlin Central School. He enlisted in the US Navy Seabees on September 13, 1972 and served 3 years of active duty. Following active duty, he served in the Naval Reserves for 20 years, retiring from the Navy on March 1, 1994. At the end of his active duty in the Navy, Ray began employment at the Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY, working in manufacturing arms and equipment for the US Army. His kids especially remember seeing pictures of the large cannons made there and knowing that their dad made them. While working at the arsenal, Ray continued his education in the Arsenal Apprenticeship Program, receiving a degree in Metallurgy from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY. He retired from the arsenal after 40 years of hard work on September 3, 2015. [Read more…] about Raymond F. Schaefer – Obituary