Raymond Louis Ballereau

Beloved husband of 70 years to Betty (nee Galvin). Cherished father to Alyce Dorbad and husband George and Larry and wife Laura. Adored grandfather of Erika Bentsen and husband Martin, and Andrew, and great grandfather to Patrick Bentsen. Loving brother of Mary Connolly and husband Paul.

Ray grew up in Queens, NY, went to Brooklyn Tech High School, and joined the US Marine Corps, serving in Korea, an experience he was very proud of for his entire life. He worked in drafting design and engineering in the defense industry on Long Island for several companies including AIL, Eaton, and finally Telephonics for over 40 years. An avid baseball fan, he passed on his passion of National League baseball, first with the Brooklyn Dodgers and then The New York Mets, to his children. He loved working with his hands, could fix anything, and after retirement, went back to his boyhood hobby of building and flying RC model airplanes. He was president of the Whitman Flyers for many years. But his greatest joy came from music. He played drums all his life and worked in the clubdate business on Long Island for close to 50 years, first with Betty, then with Alyce and Larry in the band, Two Plus Two , for decades. He additionally ran his own business booking bands as the house band for the Imperial Manor in Bethpage. A life well lived.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 18 from 4pm to 8pm at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, 315 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 19 at 10:00 am at St. Martin of Tours RC Church, 220 Central Avenue, Bethpage, NY. Interment to follow at Calverton National Cemetery.