Oscar Raymond Mayer left this world in peace on November 21, 2023 surrounded by his loving family and friends.  He experienced sudden cardiac arrest on November 19, 2023 after completing Mile 25 of the Philadelphia Marathon adjacent to the "Three Angels" statue on Kelly Drive with his "Fourth Angel", his sister Libby, by his side. Despite the best efforts of heroic bystanders and a talented team of physicians, nurses and therapists at Penn-Presbyterian Hospital, Oscar "Ray" passed away two days later. His wishes to be an organ and tissue donor were realized and he gave the gift of a better life to multiple people.

Oscar, "Ray", was a bright "Ray of sunshine" for all who were fortunate enough to cross his path. He was born in Indianapolis, IN at Methodist Hospital on May 10, 1997 as the first child of Catharine Carbonetta Mayer and Oscar Henry Mayer.  He grew up in Riverton, NJ and attended Riverton School through 7th Grade. He then attended Moorestown Friends School through high school and graduated in 2015. Ray went to Camp Ockanickon every summer starting at age 7 and later became a counselor, spending his summers in high school life guarding at the waterfront and helping campers foster a love for the outdoors. Throughout these years, Ray also developed a passion for fencing and later served as a captain of the team and was the lead saber fencer at Moorestown Friends School. He also discovered his artistic talent in both the visual and performing arts as he acted in multiple plays/musicals and developed skills across multiple artistic mediums.

Ray went on to Ithaca College where he found his fierce passion for the environment and majored in Environmental Studies with minor in Art. During this time, he also decided to start going by his first name, Oscar. He played a pivotal role in studying and conserving the beautiful Natural Lands nature preserve on the Ithaca College campus. The time Oscar spent in the natural lands was among the many experiences that inspired him to hike the Appalachian Trail. Because of the need to start hiking in the spring, he accelerated his studies and graduated one semester early in December of 2018.

Soon after, he returned to Riverton and was fortunate to meet the love of his life, Katie Corris, of Cherry Hill, NJ. They were a perfect match with their shared values of nature and travel, and they became inseparable from the start. Their love was strong enough to sustain a 5-month separation during Oscar's Appalachian trail adventure, relying on GPS texts and letters sent in resupply boxes to nurture their connection.

Oscar and Katie's love flourished as they seamlessly integrated into each other's lives. They settled in Haddonfield, NJ in a cozy apartment with their two cats, Bean and Basil, and their dog Banjo. Their mutual love helped them grow into two beautiful people. Oscar and Katie enjoyed many local activities together with friends and family like taking hikes with Banjo and enjoying local breweries. They also cherished time spent visiting family across the country which took them to places such as Oregon, the Chesapeake Bay, and Florida. Oscar and Katie also volunteered on multiple veterinary relief missions to Central and South America. Oscar's gentle manner and positive energy made him a crucial part of the animal care team.

After the Appalachian trail, Oscar stayed connected with his passion for the outdoors and served as a nature educator at Fernbook Farms in Chesterfield, NJ. He then continued his environmental efforts at the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection where he made many friends and was a valued co-worker. Oscar's work most recently included spearheading a grant program which aimed to improve air quality by reimbursing the installation of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state.

Oscar enjoyed an extremely active lifestyle and his love for running began in high school where he ran cross country. Running became an outlet for Oscar. In October of 2022, he completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. He trained extensively for his marathons, competing in multiple half-marathons, 10-milers, 18-milers and he completed an Olympic triathlon earlier this fall. Oscar also completed multiple MS 150s alongside his dad during his time in college.

Oscar "Ray" has left behind his great love, Katie Corris, his parents Catharine Mayer and Hank Mayer, his sister Libby Mayer, his grandparents, cousins, and many loving friends. Oscar "Ray" embodied kindness, generosity, and compassion. His authentic smile and warmhearted spirit were infectious. There will be a celebration of his life to come in the future. For those interested in supporting Oscar "Ray", charitable donations can be made to the Oscar Raymond Mayer Memorial Fund at Ithaca College, which will support current and future students who share his passion for the outdoors and the environment.

Gifts can be made to Ithaca College in memory of Oscar at the following link, via mail, or by contacting Paul Hesler '87, Director of Principal Gifts.

Link:

https://www.ithaca.edu/oscar-raymond-mayer-memorial-fund

Mail:

Checks payable to Ithaca College and mailed to:

Ithaca College, 953 Danby Road, Alumni Hall, Ithaca, NY 14850 Attn: Gift Processing

Contact:

Alex Coll, Senior Director, Development

610-308-6956 or at acoll@ithaca.edu

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.weberfuneralhomeinc.com