By James Vezos—

The campus community is saddened by the loss of Fine Arts professor Raymond Statlander.

Statlander was an educator at New Jersey City University for over 40 years where he taught painting, drawing, life drawing, philosophy of art, and contemporary art. As a former Chair of the Art Department and coordinator of the Fine Arts Specialization Program, Statlander played a key role in the growth and success of the Art Department.

As a New Jersey native, he received his B.A. from William Paterson University and M.F.A. from Pratt Institute. He also continued his instruction at the Aspen School of Contemporary Art, the Boston College at Tanglewood, and the New School University.

During his under-graduate career at William Paterson, (which was known as Paterson State Teachers College in the early 60s), Statlander indulged in the arts with long-time friend and recently retired NJCU art Professor Ben Jones.

Both were very active in the art community by attending numerous events ranging from gallery exhibits, poetry/literature readings, as well as opera and other musical mediums. Their friendship flourished all throughout graduate school and as colleagues at NJCU for 42 years.

As an educator, Statlander sought from his students a level of dedication that would allow them to excel in their specific field. He understood that a teacher must be deeply immersed in knowledge, thus he worked his students towards developing and accurately understanding their craft.

“The other thing about Ray is that he is one of the most truthful people I’ve met. He was a man strongly rooted in principle. He always tried to arrive at answers in a truthful, philosophical, and intellectual way. His genuineness was unmatched,” Ben Jones said.

But beside Statlander’s passion for teaching, he was also a lover of the outdoors. During summers and downtime, he and art Professor Hugo Bastidas would take seven to ten mile canoe trips down the Delaware River. Aesthetics, challenges facing the art department, the beauty of nature, and their artwork would be discussed during these journeys.

Bastidas said, “Ray was a very meditative fellow. I don’t ever recall hearing anything negative come out of his mouth. Nor did he stand to hear anything of the sort and would excuse himself from the conversation. Ray was a gentle man with a kind heart. I will miss our slow trips and his memory will always be tied to that river.”

As a true man of the world, it is said without a doubt that Statlander’s presence alone was enough to spark creative endeavors in all he came in contact with. Inside and outside of the classroom he was always furthering his knowledge so that those that he did teach could walk away with much more than a letter-grade.

Art Department Chair Herb Rosenberg said, “Ray and I met when we were both doing our MFAs at Pratt Institute in the mid-sixties. The excitement and ferocity within his paintings were contagious. I felt a part of his process even though I was not studying painting at the time.”

“Ray approached his career at NJCU with an intense commitment to quality as an instructor, a Chair of the Art Department or as an innovator. Under his stewardship as coordinator of the Fine Arts Specialization the program flourished. He was instrumental in the development of our then fledgling graduate program.”

Within the Art Department he provided honest and balanced advice during his years at the University. He built lasting friendships that many will continue to adore. The Art Department is planning a memorial service in honor of Raymond Statlander. This tribute is to take place sometime in the early fall. Additional information will be released in due time.

Jones said,” Raymond exposed the students to a thinking that was open yet sound. He challenged the students to really understand what they’re doing, and at the same time challenged them to question themselves and the rational of their thinking.”