Dr. Raymond "Ray" A. Schlueter

Born on January 29, 1943, in Edwardsville, Illinois, Ray was the eldest son of the late Aloysius W. and Gladys (Kubicek) Schlueter. Ray is preceded in death by his beloved son Brent Schlueter and younger brother Danny Joe Schlueter. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jane (Guthrie) Schlueter of Tampa and his daughter Julie (Ian Broggy) Schlueter of Queens, New York; brothers Mark (Beth) Schlueter of Edwardsville, Illinois, and Jim (Amy) Schlueter of Spirit Lake, Iowa, along with cherished nieces and nephews.

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1965, Ray married Jane Guthrie, also of Edwardsville, on June 12, 1965, and they immediately joined the Peace Corps as teachers in Ethiopia. After completing their Peace Corps service, they returned to begin their careers in education and start a family. They had two children, Brent and Julie. In the early 1970s Ray pursued his doctorate in Ichthyology and Ecology at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, and upon receiving his Ph.D. he took a faculty position at the University of Tampa in 1975. He retired as Associate Professor Emeritus of Biology in 2012.

Ray helped to create the university’s first Biology and Conservation study-abroad courses, which led to the growth of study-abroad programs across the university’s four colleges in all disciplines. He took students to Costa Rica for more than 25 years, as well as to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Ray returned to Africa with an international study group where he helped local young people in Ghana start a chair rental business they named “Papa Ray’s Chairs.”

Ray was a naturalist. Throughout his life he was an observer and record keeper of nature. He and Jane were regular travelers, experiencing the full spectrum of wildlife around the globe, including Iceland, Europe, the Far East, South America as well as the North America.

Ray was also a lifelong sports fan starting with the St. Louis Cardinals. He coached both Brent and Julie’s youth teams and closely followed college athletics. He loved the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, and he was an avid follower of the Florida Gators – Brent and Julie’s alma mater.

Ray was devoted to his family, proud of his Bohemian (Czech) ancestry, and proud of his upbringing in Glen Crossing, Illinois. Ray also enjoyed card games during family gatherings, and he never saw a corny pun that he didn’t like. Above all, he was a humble and loving husband, father, brother, friend and colleague who gave and loved, and he was dearly loved in return.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Monteverde Institute, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to academic programs, research and community initiatives in Costa Rica, at https://monteverde-institute.org.; or to the Dog Training Club of Tampa, Inc., at https://thedogtrainingcluboftampa.org.

Though our hearts are heavy, we rejoice in a life beautifully and lovingly lived. Ray leaves a legacy of faith and service, love and laughter that will live on in those who were blessed to know him.

A visitation will be held at Blount & Curry, Terrace Oaks, 12690 N. 56th Street, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, followed by a Mass of Resurrection which will begin at 1:00 pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9715 N. 56th Street, Temple Terrace, FL 33617. Interment in Sunset Memory Gardens, 11005 US-301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592.