On Wednesday, we posted information about the bicycle accident involving Ray Deter, who owns d.b.a. on First Avenue as well as the locations in Williamsburg and New Orleans. He has been in critical condition since the accident. His wife, Catherine, just updated the d.b.a. Brooklyn Facebook page with this note:
"Thanks so much for everyone's kind words and support for me and the boys....Ray will no longer be with us after this weekend, but we hope our loss will give life to others. Please celebrate Ray as he passes on. Love to you all, Catherine, Jake & Maxwell"
More information will be posted at a later date regarding funeral arrangements.
[Image via MetroMix]
My heart goes out to his family. They are constantly in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSo sad.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Ray, but will raise a beer or two in his honor tonight. From what I've read he sounded like a great guy. R.I.P. Ray.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for the Deter family's loss. I applaud them for their decision to allow for Ray to be a donor. It's a courageous decision.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone established a fund for Ray's family?
ReplyDeletethis is horrible. when will the city start making these drivers accountable? currently they get systematically excused when things like this happen.
ReplyDeleteso sorry this happened to such a good man and his family.
thanks for all you've done Ray.
Very sad. R.I.P. dba is a fine establishment, both here and in NOLA.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad. My condolences to Ray's friends and family.
ReplyDeleteIncredibly sad. Do we know anything about the driver or how this happened?
ReplyDeleteI'll keep Ray and his family in my thoughts.
So sorry to hear he didn't make it. May he rest in peace. My thoughts are with his family. From what his wife wrote, it sounds like he is an organ donor. What an incredible gift he is giving others.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about this. My love goes out to the family. Stay strong.
ReplyDeleteSeeing this information for the first time -- so very sorry for you, Catherine, and your lovely boys.
ReplyDeleteOur children attended "Little Mish" together many years ago - Tafarii and Max were in class together, if I recall correctly.
Wishing you peace and sending warm thoughts during a heartbreaking time.
I'm crushed to read this. My heart sinks and my thoughts go out to his family.
ReplyDeleteI am terribly sorry for your loss I feel truly for his two sons and his wife. We will never truly know what happened but we do know city traffic is scary not just for people walking or on bikes but even also for cars. From what I read it was reported as an accident the driver wasn't doing anything illegal. I have now been on both sides of this experience for years ago a friend of mine on his motorcycle on his way home was killed when a driver made an illegal u turn in an highway exit now that was purely the fault of the driver. In this situation I know the driver personally and he us a sweet young man a hard worker and student and helps his family and friends immensely in anyway he can. His family is of utmost importance to him. He called me Wed. Night to inform me that he would be intractable for a while and that he wouldn't be ignoring me if I tried to reach him and that he had gotten into an accident and has been crying for days and that at this time he is in need of speaking to psychologist. I've known the driver since he was six years of age and if he could change this he would and he would never in his life hurt a fly let alone a person anyone who knew him would have the same opinion. Right now I know he is overwhelming torturing himself for taking the life of an innocent man husband and father even it being an accident he is in an emotional and mental he'll over the incident and I feel so sorry that this happened to him because now for the rest of his life he must live with this guilt. This is so unfortunate for both parties in this situation and the city needs to do something to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclist and we will never know if a helmet would have saved his life or not but please for all the cyclist out there don't let this go in vane protect yourself the best way you can. Again my sympathies to the family and friends for this loss and know now that this driver is deeply sorry ashamed and traumatized by this and is a person that Ray probably would have enjoyed if he were alive today to know him.
ReplyDeleteRespect to Ray from a fellow cyclist who has had many fond interactions at dba.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for donating organs to help others. I hope more good can come from tragedy - cyclists to wear helmets and everyone to take more care.
ReplyDelete"D"eter "B"egins "A"new.....
ReplyDelete.....may he live on.
"D"eter "B"egins "A"new.....
ReplyDelete.....may he live on..... and on..
This breaks my heart. I've been in the neighborhood for over 20 years and d.b.a. has always been a great neighborhood spot. I didn't know Ray personally but have seen him in the bar on numerous occasions.
ReplyDeleteI had a bike accident last year and broke my jaw and my elbow. If I didn't have a helmet on, I might not have lived either. You don't realize how vulnerable you are on a bike. Lack of bike laws and traffic enforcement doesn't help. RIP, Ray.