Obituaries

Condolences

• 10/01/2021

  Cathy Carey

  Nice picture! Glad you were able to be "neighbors" for a few years!

• 10/01/2021

  sandra cory

  1 file added to the album Pictures of Ray Ostrander

• 10/01/2021

  Joyce DeBord

  My Dad was a gentle soul. He was always ready to lend an ear or offer advice. He was a man of many talents, and if he didn't know how to do something, he would pick up a book and learn. He taught himself how to do many things in his spare time, such as building furniture, mastering the skill of sailing his boats, skiing, computers, and so much more. He never let his age slow him down, and he completely rebuilt his outside deck and stairs when he was in his mid 80's. He was a wonderful father, and I miss him every day.

• 10/01/2021

  Sandra Cory

  Elmo Raymond Ostrander (known as Ray in his later years) was my first cousin. My father and his mother were brother and sister. We grew up in the depression era and I remember with fond memories having dinner at their house on 15th Ave. in San Francisco. Since we were only children And he five years older than I, I looked up to him as my older brother. His parents had a rustic cabin up on the Mattole river in Northern California in the '30's and we went there a couple of summers. It had no running water or electric lights and we would warm ourselves by the campfire that Ray would help his father make. It was his job to gather the wood and chop it into pieces for the fire. Throughout our lives we remained close and in the last two years before he moved to Fremont we lived a mile away from each other in Magalia, California and were able to see each other more often. He was always kind to me and a very gentle person never one to raise his voice in anger. I miss him and will remember him with love. Sandra Cory

• 10/01/2021

  Alexandra von Wrede

  I love you, Ray. I still do, even after all these years. I miss you, Ray. If there's a heaven, I hope I find you there, When I pass, I hope you're the first person I see! I will ALWAYS love you, Ray!'' Alexandra (Joyce) von Wrede

• 10/01/2021

  Cathy Carey

  Ray was always great when it came to encouragement and good advice. He commented a year ago regarding our daughter Elaina and her upcoming college plans. He shared some information about his own training. I will copy and paste an excerpt here: "I was lucky and received the GI Bill so that I could continue my Navy electronics training of nearly 2 years after volunteering when I was 17. It was towards the end of WW II so that I only saw classrooms and not active duty in the Pacific theater. Otherwise my parents probably would not have been able to pay for college.I feel very fortunate to receive a BSEE from Cal/Berkeley." Rest in peace cousin Ray. The Careys

• 10/01/2021

  Alexandra (Alix) von Wrede

  Ray, you were my oldest and dearest friend. We both grew up in San Francisco, and unknowingly followed each other around until my father built the house on Buchanan Drive (in Santa Clara) and your house on Loyola. Then, we both went to work at Applied Technology, where we officially "met." I used to leave a single red rose on your desk or a bouquet of flowers, until the Engineering guys began to catch on and began to smile knowingly. You still looked handsome and dignified in your older years, and I LOVED going sailing with you across San Francisco Bay! Those are some of the most wonderful memories of my life. When Shadow and I (she was half Bernese Mountain Dog and half (red) Golden Retriever, went to visit you in Megalia, you and I would have coffee on the deck in the morning and then you'd take her to the tennis courts to watch you play. She was always so happy to accompany you, although one day she came back on her own. One of your tennis buddies promptly showed up to make sure she had made it safely across the street to "home." She had! I read a book some years ago written by a Franciscan Friar entitled "Will I See You in Heaven?" about our pets. He says they go with us, so I hope our beloved Shadow is with you now! If she is, perhaps you have taught her to fetch those occasional missed tennis balls! 🙂 Although in time we each married others, there was always a part of us that loved one another until the very end when you left us all to to be with Dee. I know because I still have your Valentine card from 2016. A part of me will love and miss you forever, Ray. I will always remember our relationship as one of the best and happiest experiences of my life. In all our years together, we never once had a disagreement or exchanged a cross word. Thank you for that, Ray. I wish I could say that about others, but truly, there was always and only just YOU about whom I can honestly say that. Rest in peace, my eternal beloved friend! I hope we me

• 10/01/2021

  dianne main-cochran

  Ray had an infectious laugh. It was hard not to laugh with him. That's what I'm going to remember most. He was always gentle and kind. He will be missed. RIP cousin. Dianne Main-Cochran