# 20
Hometown: Long Island, NY (Hauppauge)
Position: F Playing Height: 6-3
Date of Birth: December 27, 1940 [Centenary - 70 - 18]
Date of Death: July 5, 2017
Additional Photos: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Game by Game Statistics
Kentucky Career Notes:
Transferred from Long Island (NY) Agricultural and Technical Institute
Season Notes:
1962-63: (Ineligible 2nd semester)
Post-UK Career Notes:
Served in the Military

Season	Games Played	Minutes	FG	FGA	%	FT	FTA	%	Total Rebs	Asst.	F	Total Points
1962-63	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Total	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	?	0	0	1	0

Obituary - Ray Freudenberger Obituary, (May 1, 2026) by Jon Scott & Freudenberger Family

Raymond Peter Freudenberger was born December 27, 1940 to Frank and Anna Freudenberger. Ray grew up in Commack NY on Long Island and attended Hauppauge High School. At 6-foot-3, he was a basketball star and graduated in 1958.

The Royal Aires - Ray Freudenberger is seen second from the right

During this time he became involved in the music scene in the area, including joining the Royal Aires, a Brooklyn based doo-wop group with lead singer Sal Richards, Rudy Gasparik, Johnny Lem and Frank "Gino Amodeo. Ray played bass for the group.

Noted Newsday in an article on March 5, 1959: "Ray Freudenberger has a hit record with his Gallo platter of 'Baby, Baby'. He's the son of Jack Freudenberger, owner of the Commack Grill and president of the East Northpoint Lions Club. Ray's a tall, good-looking rock 'n' roller who has two more discs in the works."

A few years later he attended Long Island Agricultural and Technical Institute in Farmingdale, NY where he played basketball under coach Jerry Allard during the 1960-61 and 1961-62 seasons, earning second team all-conference honors.

In the fall of 1962 Freudenberger transferred to the University of Kentucky and was on the team but was not on scholarship. In an article by Russell Rice in the Lexington Leader on January 2, 1963, Freudenberger said that he chose to attend Kentucky because it was "cheaper than the others." He continued "I didn't come down here to play basketball ... but I knew I was going to try out for the team." He was a member of little utilized practice players along with Tom Harper, George Critz and Denny Radabaugh nicknamed "The Lost Battalion".

An article on December 24, 1962 in the Lexington Herald by E. Martin Jesse made note of him when it was mentioned:

"Who is Number 20? Fans have been wondering about the tall blond cager who warms up with the UK team but never plays. He is Ray Freudenberger from Long Island, N.Y. a junior college graduate from New York Agricultural and Technical Institute. He is not on scholarship at UK and is not listed in the brochure or programs."

Three nights later, Freudenberger played his first and only game of his career for Kentucky, in a victory over Dartmouth. According to the Lexington Leader after the game: "The game marked the first time (UK Coach Adolph) Rupp was able to play four substitutes - Tommy Harper, George Critz, Denny Radabaugh and Ray Freudenberger. 'All in all, it was a nice effort,' he said."

In the article by Rice after Christmas, Freudenberger commented on the fact that even though he wasn't on scholarship, the team provided him room and board over the Christmas holiday. "I really appreciate it," he said, "...and I'm really pretty proud to be playing for Kentucky and Coach Rupp. He's a big tradition back east."


Ray Freudenberger (sporting a black eye he received from Cotton Nash during practice) with Patty Craig, as published in the Lexington Leader on January 2, 1963

Unfortunately he was declared academically ineligible his second semester in Lexington.

Nearly two years later tragedy struck when Freudenberger, who had been recently discharged from the Army as a Corporal, was involved in a car collision near Bartonsville (PA). He was returning to his home in New York in the early morning after visiting his girlfriend at Wilkes College in Wilkes Barre, PA.

Ray was driving along Interstate 80 when coming off an interchange he rear-ended a flat bed tractor-trailer truck which had stopped to get directions, but had just started to pull back onto the road. The gas tank of his white Volkswagen Beetle burst and fuel spilled over the vehicle, but did not ignite. Ray suffered a fractured skull and chest, brain injury and multiple cuts to the face. He was in critical condition and taken by ambulance to a hospital in East Stroudsburg where he remained for over two weeks.

Ray was in an extended coma and lived with his parents in Commack. After his recovery he worked as a security guard. He later moved to Florida but remained a lifelong New York Islanders fan. Ray Freudenberger died July 5, 2017 and is buried in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

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