Raymond Tanenbaum

Raymond Tanenbaum passed away on Sunday, December 24th 2017 at the age of 86 due to complications following surgery.
Ray grew up in Brooklyn with his parents Fannie and Harry and his two older brothers Murray and Eli. He loved sharing stories of playing stickball in the street, music with his brothers and delivering groceries for his parents' corner store, Tanenbaums' Groceries. Ray graduated from Pace College with a BS in business, and finance. After graduation he served in the army during the Korean War as a Corporal in the Infantry.
Soon after his service he moved from Brooklyn to Valley Stream, where he started a family and a distinguished business career. In his early professional life, he worked as a financial advisor in the entertainment industry for Mike Todd, Mike Todd Jr., Basil Rathbone, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, Steve Lawrence, Edie Gorme and Tony Orlando, among others.
Ray then joined Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company ,becoming their treasurer, soon Vice-President ,and then in a move to Colonial Penn's headquarters in Philadelphia, Senior Vice-President. He thereafter moved back to New York to help create, and become President, of Grand Circle Travel. After a long and successful tenure at Grand Circle he retired, but then became an executive recruiter with Kenzer, where he finished his career.
When he moved back to New York, he met and married his wife Jeanne. They traveled the world together, often with his in laws Ruth and Jerry Solomon. Ray loved ( and like most true New Yorkers sometimes hated) his many years living in Manhattan, and enjoyed spending time at his summer home on Fire Island. Ray was always passionate about politics, one of his proudest but ultimately saddest times was spent organizing Robert Kennedy's campaign in Chester County, PA in 1967-1968. He was a voracious reader, had a great sense of humor, and was a wonderful and very funny story teller. He adored his dog Maddie.
Ray is survived by his wife Jeanne, son Jeff, daughter in law Catherine, daughter Hayley, son in law Jim, granddaughter Claudia, sisters in law Esther, Mary, and Diana, and nieces and nephews David,Jacob, Laurie, Lee, and Lillian, and his former wife Carol.
We remember the wonderful times we had with him and will miss him forever.

Ray will be laid to rest on December 31, 2017 at Haym Salomon Memorial Park in Frazer PA in a private ceremony. The family requests no flowers. Memorial contribtions can be made to help pets in need at Frankies Friends, 2950 Bush Lake Blvd, Tampa FL, 33614. www.frankiesfriends.org/donate.