Ramon G. McLeod

Ramon “Ray” Gerald McLeod, 94, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2023.

A visitation will be held on February 21, 2023 from 5-8 pm at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave, Westfield NJ. A funeral service will be celebrated on February 22, 2023 at 10 am, also at Higgins and Bonner. Interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

Ray was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 30, 1928, but the majority of his life was spent in New Jersey. Ray attended Central Commercial and Technical High School in Newark (class of 1946). It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Phyllis. While at Central, Ray played catcher for the varsity baseball team, earning the title of “All City Catcher” and becoming one of the youngest players ever to be drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. From 1945-1955, Ray played a total of 695 Minor League Baseball games all over the country with his wife, Phyllis, by his side as his #1 fan. Once he hung up his baseball cleats, Ray and Phyllis settled in Cranford to raise their children Bud, Bob, and Karen.

Ray went on to become a devoted businessman, working as a stock broker until his mid eighties. In his free time, Ray loved to golf, read books about history, solve crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and root for the New York Yankees. But most of all, he loved to spend time with his family.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 71 years Philomena A. McLeod (Nocciolo), son Robert A. McLeod, brother Henry M. McLeod, sister Sharon Conte (McLeod), sister Patricia A. Martin (McLeod), mother Mary A. McLeod (Frost), and father Henry D. McLeod.

He is survived by his brother William McLeod, son Ramon “Bud” McLeod, daughter Karen McLeod; 7 loving grandchildren Julie and Jennifer Buonaguro, Bobby McLeod, Katie McLeod, Lauren McLeod, Graham McLeod, Everett McLeod; and 2 great grandchildren Jackson Taylor and Henry McLeod.

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