Obituary of Capt. Raymond Zheng

Captain Raymond Zheng passed away on Friday, July 30, 2021. He is survived by his father, mother, sister, and good boi (dog), Toby. Raymond, or Ray, as his friends call him, was born in New York City and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. At RIT, Ray decided to join ROTC on the Air Force track. His dream was to become a pilot (a highly coveted and highly competitive position to obtain in the Air Force). He wanted to work with motivated people, to serve, and to help save lives. He did that in 2014 when he graduated from RIT and became a commissioned 2nd Lt. officer. He then went on to visit 30 countries, deployed twice, and relocated 3 times in his 7 years of service. Most recently, he was awarded the Air Medal for helping our country conclude 20 years of combat operations in Afghanistan. Ray was the epitome of the phrase "work hard, play hard." He always excelled at work and anything he did, but he knew how to let loose with a few brews with friends and have a great time. He consistently took the lead in coordinating events with his friends, whether it was going on a trip, inviting people over for dinner (which he cooked deliciously), or taking them out to brunch. Ray's goal was to share good times and good food with good people. Ray will be forever missed. He made such an impact on so many. We will keep his spirit alive by pushing ourselves to achieve our dreams, and always striving to improve. The family of Raymond Zheng would like to thank his United States Air Force family for their overwhelming care, support, and guidance throughout this heartbreaking time. Funeral will be held at Matthew Funeral Home 2508 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10314 on Tuesday 8/10/2021 from 11AM-3PM and 5-9PM, with service starting at 6pm. Burial will be at Washington Crossing Cemetery in Newtown, PA on 8/11/2021 at 1:15pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his memory may be made to any dog rescue/shelter or Veteran organization of your choice.