Raymond Hopler


Raymond Hopler of Shelter Island and Sarasota, Florida, passed away of respiratory failure on Friday, November 20, 2009, in the company of his family, at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota. He was 79 years old.


Ray, also known as “Rusty,” was born June 9, 1930 in Rockaway, New Jersey. He was the fourth of five children born to Edna (née Bailey) and Russell Hopler. 


As a young man, Ray took work as a lumberjack and driver for a sawmill in northern New Jersey. His family often heard him recall one of his regular routes: driving logs into New York City, destined to become part of the piers along the South Manhattan shoreline.


He met and married his wife, Lorraine, (née Sheehan) in 1949. Upon their moving to New York in 1951, he was apprenticed as a cabinet maker. In 1952 the family moved to Levittown where they purchased their first home and became active members and volunteers at St. Bernard’s Parish for 30 years. 


In 1954, Raymond went into partnership with friend and neighbor Michael Minogue, forming Cardinal Construction Company in North Bellmore. Specializing in custom kitchen and alteration work in homes throughout Nassau County, they also continued their mason contracting business until 1983. The family, summer residents since 1956, moved permanently to the Shelter Island home Ray had built in the late 1960s.


At that time, Ray “retired” to a new career maintaining the lawns and grounds of over 50 properties on Shelter Island, with only part-time help from his children and grandchildren. He gradually reduced the number of properties he maintained but continued working until age 72. In his retirement he became well known for his wood-crafting and for the cut flower bouquets he grew in his garden and sold at his stand on the corner of their property. 


Raymond is survived by Lorraine, his wife of 60 years; two daughters, Amy Martin (Ian Fairweather) of Greenport and Carrie Wood (Craig) of Baldwin and Shelter Island; grandchildren Gregory Martin, Samantha Martin Idle (Charles), Audrey and Owen Wood; and great-granddaughter Jessica Martin-Idle. He is also survived by his younger brother, Allen Hopler (Lucille), sister-in law Angie Hopler of Denville, New Jersey, and numerous nieces and nephews.


He was dearly beloved by all his family and will be missed by those who knew him.


A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, December 12 at Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church Shelter Island at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Red Cross Shelter Island Ambulance Corps (P.O. Box 830, 11964) or Our Lady of the Isle Outreach Apostolate (P.O. Box 3027, 11965).