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Raymond Crothers

Obituary

Raymond V. Crothers, 65, of Tolland, beloved husband of Robin (DiRosario) Crothers, passed away Thursday (February 28, 2008). He was born December 13, 1942 the son of late Frederick and Eleanor (Gorman) Crothers and was raised in Mystic. Raymond was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Vietnam War. He was a teacher in the Wethersfield School System for 10 years and was also the owner and operator of The Run In, an athletic footwear store in Rocky Hill. Raymond was a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he achieved All American status and was later inducted into their Hall of Fame for his running accomplishments. Raymond has the unique distinction of winning three different divisions of the Manchester Road Race - high school, open and masters. Raymond had a passion for running, and also enjoyed bicycling, kayaking and playing tennis. Including Robin, his wife of 25 years, Raymond is survived by a brother Harold Crothers and his wife Dorothy, two sisters Patricia Cameron and Frances Crothers, and several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. A memorial service will be held Monday March 3rd at 11 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd, Wethersfield. Calling hours are Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations in Raymond's memory may be made to the Connecticut Hospice 100 Double Beach Rd. Branford, CT 06405. For on-line expressions of sympathy please visit http://www.desopo.com.

Thoughts from Ray's friends

• Amby Burfoot (link to original posting)

  Feb. 29: Ray Crothers, RIP, You Will Be Greatly Missed

  [A great friend of mine, and a great friend to running and all runners, died yesterday in Connecticut. This is a short reminiscence.]

  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 it as a high schooler, and many years later in the masters division. I spent a lifetime trying to match that achievement; never could. I've also never been able to find another runner who could claim "the triple crown" in the same race, particularly an always-loaded one like Manchester.

  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.

• Ron Knapp (link to original posting not available)

  Ray Crothers - A Life Hero...

  (March 3, 2008 - 7:00am - By Ron Knapp) I received the news of the death of Ray Crothers last Thursday evening as I was reading through the daily emails that are sent to this site. As I sat back in the chair I realized that a true life hero of mine was gone but certainly not forgotten. How could I forget about Ray Crothers when I had recently spoke with him prior to Frank Shorter's speech on the Tuesday night before the Manchester Road Race at Manchester Community College’s SBM Auditorium. As Lindy Remigino and I were awaiting the appearance of Shorter, Ray walked up and started chatting with us about life in general and how we were doing. But that was Ray, always concerned about others, friendly to those he knew and always welcoming new acquaintances. When I asked him about his running, he mentioned that he was unable to do as much as he wanted, an undetermined illness had caused him to be always tired and rundown, but then he also mentioned that he had been walking and trying to active as much as he could under the circumstances. He mentioned that he was still going to be in the MMR on Thursday but was going to walk the course. I realize now that I was in the presence of two of my life heroes, Ray and Lindy, both high-caliber athletes in their time and gracious competitors in victory or defeat.

  As a road racer in the late 70's and for most of the 80's, it seemed that in many of the local road races that I was always chasing either Ray or John Vitale, both of whom were more than a decade older than me but the ones to run with in a race if victory was your goal. In a look back at Ray's running achievements, I realized why I crossed the line more times in back of Ray than in front -- he was one of the best state runners over a few decades before running was popular, first as a stand out high school runner at Fitch High School in Groton in the Class of '61 where he was coached by legendary marathoner John J Kelley and then at Central Connecticut State University. His running career at CCSU earned him a place in their 1983 Hall of Fame Class; in running cross country and track from 1961 to 1965, Ray achieved All NAIA Cross Country honors in 1961, All American Cross Country status in 1963, was the Eastern Cross Country Champion in 1961, 64, 65, won the New England Championships in 1965, earned All IC4A Team member status in 1965 and served as the Cross Country team captain in 1963, 64 and 65.

  Ray achieved further notoriety on the roads with his victories in the Manchester Thanksgiving Day Road Race as he first won the high school division in 1959 and then again in 1960 with a best of 25:11. He continued his winning tradition as he won the race as an Open division competitor in 1965 with a 23:50.2 finish time for the 4.74mile course. He completed the yet unmatched triple with a win in the Master's division in 1984 with a 24:56 effort. Ray always said that running at Manchester was an annual reunion where he looked forward to seeing persons that he has known and run with over the many decades of competing in Connecticut.

  Ray was the quintessential competitor, always running hard from the gun and through to the finish line where afterwards, he would always have time to shake your hand to congratulate your finish, whether you placed ahead or behind him. His all-business attitude toward competition, genuine friendliness at the pre and post race activities or his special attention to your running needs at The Run In store in Rocky Hill are the traits that I have admired and tried to emulate for these many years that have has made Ray Crothers one of my life heroes.