Ray Crothers/Rusty was my wonderful brother! He was a great runner. We always went to the Thanksgiving Day Road Race in Manchester, CT He won in 4 different categories. The first time he won was when I was 10 years old. He was  a great brother and person!
Patsy Crothers

Ray and I roomed together at Great Meadow Tower in the mid 70's.  He always amazed me with his dedication to his sport and his daily routine of energy foods and work-outs.  

We suffered through the fire in 1976 where we lost half of our apartment on the fifth floor.  His bedroom and the kitchen were destroyed, Ray losing his new expensive desk and most of his awards from his sport.  I was away at the time and he relayed to me how he was awakened by the alarm and had dificulty getting down the stairs with his bike to escape.

We parted when I built a house in Cromwell and married.

I saw Ray twice during the last year, once in his store when I bought some shoes and again in a local eatery.  Its funny how you can go for years and then have multiple encounters.  We reminisced and enjoyed our time.  At the eatery, he met my family.

Ray was a good person.  

We will be out of town at the time of the memeorial services.  

Our deepest sympathies.

Nick and Marilyn

Dear Robin,

I was saddened to read of Ray's passing in this morning's Courant.

I had known him in Benchmark and USANA and had been an occasional customer at the Run In.

I really enjoyed knowing him, but never knew of his many achievements until reading about them today.

I wish you comfort and closure in your life as it goes on.

J

Dear Robin and family,  Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, Nick and Vonnie

I was saddened to read of Ray's passing.  I taught with Ray in Wethersfield and we shared many good laughs.  I oftened teased him about his running 90 miles a week because he put more mileage on his sneakers in a week then I did on my car.
My sincerest sympathies are with you at this difficult time.

We are so sorry to hear of Ray's passing.We will miss seeing him coming and going!    With our deepest Sympathy, The girls next door at Ace

I will miss Ray. He was one of the friendliest runners I knew - just the nicest guy.  I met him in the 90s from Bob and Denise Valk who let me know right out that I was to buy my running shoes from no one other than their friend Ray since he would deliver them to my classroom and take good care of me and they were right.  Later when I met John Kelley and Amby I learned more about Ray.  I was pleased to be at the Mother's Day Run a couple of years ago when Ray was honored as the Race Marshall. He loved that run and I think ran it many times when it was the Rabbit Run. I will miss him there and of course at Manchester.

Robin, I shall always remember Ray's warm smile whether on the tennis court or when I visited him at the store to purchase sneakers. I shall not forget the night he delivered a gift to our home of ""raceday"" running shoes for my daughter Lauren and how this gesture touched my daughter.This meant so much more coming from Ray than her parents. We shall miss his enthusiasm and smile, and consider ourselves fortunate to be able to have called him our friend.
Larry, Lori, Sarah & Lauren Hutnick

We always enjoyed going to the store.  Ray was always there to help us.  He knew exactly what would fit our feet and be comfortable.  He was very friendly and honest.  Harry will especially miss him because he was one
of my lighting customers who always treated me like a real person or like part of a family.

RAYMOND (""RAY,"" ""RUSTY"") CROTHERS GRADUATED FROM Fitch High in Groton, CT, a few years before me in the early 1960s, was teacher/coach John J. Kelley's first big-talent runner, and the first runner of my generation I looked up to and tried to emulate. Next to his great Central Connecticut State teammate and smooth stylist Jim Keefe, briefly an American record holder for 6 miles (I think) and top ranked American at 5000 meters in 1963, Ray was an ugly runner--hunched over, arms flailing, crimson face. But he could get the job done, he could really get the job done. He particularly excelled in cross-country and on the New England roads. He didn't just win the Manchester Road Race (on Thanksgiving Day) open division, he also won many years later in the masters division. I spent a lifetime trying to match that achievement; never could.

Away from competition, Ray was the friendliest, most sincere guy you could hope to meet. We all looked forward to the next time we would see him. He was serious, precise, and a stickler for rules, yet never crossed over the line into mean-spirited or short-sighted. Always affable. I remember that Ray and a onetime roommate, Tom Durie, also a great runner, both hated grocery shopping. So they turned it into a competitive event. Every two weeks, they'd make a long list, line up outside the store, start a stop watch, and aim to be back outside again in under 15 minutes with carts loaded down with only the absolute necessities.

Ray and John Vitale have owned The Run In just south of Hartford for more years than I can remember. They started the business long before it was a good way to make a buck. They just provided a simple, friendly service, and runners traveled far and wide to come to the store, visit with them, and buy their running gear.

I last saw Ray at the Manchester Road Race last November. He told me he didn't feel very good, and was going to walk the course. First he had a running suit he wanted to give me. I was impatient--always am--and simply wanted to take the first one on the top of the pile in his van. But he wouldn't let me. He made me try on 3 or 4. He wanted to be sure I had something that fit right and moved right. Typical Ray--helpful, gently persuasive, insistent on doing things the right way.

About a month later I learned that he had melanoma. There were stories about both he and his doctor missing it, even though he's red haired, freckle-faced, etc. I made a mental note to call him and/or his wife Robin. Then I ran into my own medical miseries, since resolved, and I never made the call. I'll regret that for a long, long time.

Ray was a runner, friend, and gentle human being. We will all miss him greatly.
----------------------------------
My Blog, same text as above, also with photo of me and Ray at Manchester
http://footloose.runnersworld.com/2008/02/ray-graduated-f.html
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Tribute Posts at LetsRun.com
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2378782

My husband Brian introduced me to the Run-In back in 1979. That's when I met Ray, and he sold me my first pair of running shoes. He was always a pleasure to do business with, always smiling and upbeat and showing interest in each and every customer that entered the store. We were very sad to hear of his death. He contributed a lot to the sport. I know the running community will miss him.

I am a long time customer of the Run In, not a runner but with feet that needed a friend.  Ray and John both have been wonderful to me over the years and Ray's friendly way and expertise will be truly missed.  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, family and friends.

I first met Ray at the Run In when I moved to this area in 1981.  Over the years, he has fitted me with countless pairs of shoes and has always demostrated a level of support, concern and dedication to me and to everyone involved in the sport of road running - a level of customer service that has aways been unmatched.  It breaks my heart to know that I will never be able to walk into his store and be met by his cheery greeting again.  My deepest sympathy goes out to his family for this untimely loss.

Ray,
Free at last, free at last...run with Spirit now and guide us from the Star World with your free presence...

It was always a great a experience to train and run with you...

John 'Gurujohn' Lamenzo
Santa Fe, NM

Debbie learned at the Shenipsit Striders meeting today, that Ray Crothers had passed away while we were in Australia. We knew that he was not well and we heard that it was likely that cancer had done a job on the body of a true running champion. We last saw Ray at the pre-race dinner the night before the Manchester Road Race last November. He seemed weak and said he was not feeling well. Still, he smiled brightly. We used to see Ray at local races and of course at The Run In, the Rocky Hill, Connecticut running store that he owned/managed with John Vitale.  In recent years, Debbie (and Shep and I) frequently saw him riding his bicycle on the Rail Trail. He ran less and rode a lot more. Sadly, it seems as if the cancer diagnosis was missed and it was too late.

My memories of Ray date back 23 years. I was just a kid looking for my first pair of running shoes after joining the cross country team at Vernon Center Middle School. My grandfather took me to The Run In and Ray fit me with a pair of Tigers. They weren?t even called Asics in those days! Periodic trips to the store with my grandfather were a joy for all three of us. Ray was always interested in what my grandfather had to say and he was always interested in my grandfather?s latest prosthesis (he was a below the knee amputee). Since my grandfather died in 1998, whenever I saw Ray, I would think of Gramps. Ray was an awesome runner and he is known especially for his multi-division triumphs at the Manchester Road Race. I?m sure that his service in Vietnam had an impact on his life and values and I know that his love of running, health, and fitness influenced many others. I?ll be thinking of Ray often, especially when I line up at Manchester once again, later this year.

http://scottlivingston.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/ray-crothers-1942-2008/

Dear Ray,

Your spirt and smile will be greatly missed during my visits back to Connecticut.  I enjoyed playing tennis with you on Sunday mornings and always looked forward to shoe shopping at The Run In.  Thanks for taking such good care of my family. You're generosity and athletic passion will never be forgotten.  

Love,
Sarah Hutnick

Ray has given me support in bringing up Ron Thompson's son, Rasheed.  Ron ran with Ray at CCSC.  Rasheed has been running at Georgetown for the past 5 years. Ron died 14 years ago when Rasheed was 8 years old. I send my condolences to Robin and all who loved Ray. He will be very missed and I thank him belatedly for all he has done for me.  Nan Aitel-thompson in VA

OBITUARIO

Raymond V. Crothers

Falleció en 28 FEBRERO, 2008

D'Esopo Funeral Chapel

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