LTC. (Ret.) Raymond A. Proietti, Sr., age 93, formerly of Manalapan, N.J. and recently of Columbus, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday May 14, 2023, attended by his family. He was born in Mount Kisco, N.Y. On June 4, 1929 to his Italian immigrant parents, John and Natalie (nee Salvati) Proietti. After graduating high school, he worked for two years and was accepted to the Norwich Military University, in Vermont, where he soon earned a football scholarship. He became a most outstanding athlete and cadet, and was inducted into Norwich’s Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and graduated with High Honors in 1953. After college, LTC Proietti received his commission in the U.S. Army. He entered flight school and became a Senior Army Aviator in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. He studied at the Military War College and became a member of the Army General Staff. He was stationed in many parts of the U.S., and several in Germany. He served one tour of duty in Korea and two tours of Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, with oak leaf cluster, five air medals, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. He was appointed Commandant of the Army Signal School at Ft. Monmouth, N.J., and his last post was in command of the Special Weapons Development battalion. While in the Army, he earned a Master’s Degree in Personnel Management from George Washington University, and after retiring from the Army, in 1977, he received a degree in Secondary Education from Monmouth University, and he would go on to become Business Administrator at Eatontown Public Schools. From there he went on to Franklin Township and then to Marlboro. After his retirement, he did volunteer work with Samaritan Center, in Manalapan, where helped with the food bank and was instrumental in conceiving, designing and constructing a low-income housing project called New Beginnings in Manalapan. LTC Proietti was an avid golfer, sports enthusiast, gardener, craftsman, cook and oil painter. He was a lector at St Thomas More, of Manalapan, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is predeceased by his wife Dolores (née McDonald), his parents, Natalie and John, and his WWII veteran older brothers, Arky and Ed. He is survived by his children, Janet Smeraldi and her husband Tom, Ray Proietti, Jr., and Marian Marcario and her husband Michael. Also his grandchildren: Steven and Michael Marcario, and Lisa Libin, and his many dear nieces and nephews. An exceptional, loving father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He will be missed. Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 1 PM at Tilghman Funeral Home located at 52 Main Street, New Egypt, NJ 08533with interment to follow at BGWCD Veteran Memorial Cemetery located at 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 from 11 AM to 1 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Raymond’s name to Disabled American Veterans (https://secure.dav.org/).