Raymond Bernard Suing was born September 16, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio, son of the late Bernard and Rosa (Kluber) Suing. Raymond grew up on E. 89th Street and later moved to Cleveland Heights. He graduated from Benedictine High School and then spent time in postwar Korea as a powerman in the army. After discharge, he went to trade school to become an electrician and was admitted to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 38. He worked for Herbst Electric Company for his entire career.
He met Suzanne Babic at a Newman Club “Beer Bash” where they shared their mutual disinterest in drinking beer. They married on July 2, 1966, celebrating 52 years of marriage before Suzanne passed away in 2017. Together Ray and Sue raised five children: Elizabeth, Brian, Annette, Steve, and Eric. They had 7 grandchildren: Katrina, Bridget, Jack, Ayda, Alexander, Julianna, and Emma. Ray’s family also included his sister, Rose Marie, his cousin Henry Kallage and wife Emma, cousins Werner Meyer and Marlies Meyer, Gary and Maria Stannek, his Aunt Beate and Uncle Joe Montagna and family, and Suzanne’s family including his brother-in-law Terry Babic and wife Kathy. In addition to spending time with family, Ray was a decades-long member of the Geauga Amateur Radio Association, broadcasting as N8EQT. He even designed their current raccoon logo. He enjoyed listening to music, particularly polka and bluegrass, and he dabbled in playing the buttonbox. He was a skilled craftsman, having built a house for his mother, a barn and furniture for his wife, an oversized swing set for his children and a four foot marble tower toy for his grandchildren. Ray had a great sense of humor and a youthful demeanor his whole life. Every year he took his kids to haunted houses, beaches, and amusement parks. He would “spin donuts” in the parking lot and catch air time on a particular bump on Butternut Rd, to the delight of his children and the feigned horror of his mother-in-law. When he retired, he rode his mountain bike at North Chagrin Reservation. He would go on roller coasters and thrill rides at Cedar Point while on a $20 senior citizen’s ticket. He defied the odds by living with multiple myeloma 8 times longer than his original prognosis. He was rarely seen without a baseball cap on his head, and without a smile and a hug. Ray was a devoted, kind, and loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. We will always remember and miss him.
