More detail on this person: A 68-year-old man died Saturday after a Lexus hit the classic 1961
Chevrolet Corvette he was driving, police said. Police received a 911 call of a motor vehicle crash
in the area of 338 West Mill Road at 5:28 p.m.
Raymond P. Ferrante, of the Long Valley section of the township, had been traveling west on West
Mill Road at the same time a 2013 Lexus RX was traveling east, police said.
The Lexus, which was operated Elaine Moran, 69, of Long Valley, crossed over the center double line
for unknown reason striking the Corvette head on, police said. The woman was not injured in the
crash and refused any medical attention, police said.
Ferrante was ejected from the vehicle by the force of the collision, police said.
Patrol Officer Adam Feichter along with a passer-by performed CPR on Ferrante but he was later
pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash is currently under investigation by Patrol Officer Philip Seabeck of the Washington
Township Traffic Bureau and Morris County Sheriffs Department
Assisting agencies at the scene; Washington Township Fire Companies, Long Valley First Aid Squad
and Morris County Sheriffs Department and Morris County Medical Examiner
He was one of Donald Trump's personal pilots for many years.
Raymond Ferrante was nothing if not generous and selfless, a man always looking to help others and
stand up for the common good. The immensely accomplished military serviceman, father, and husband
died recently in a car crash in Long Valley, and will be laid to rest at Arlington National
Cemetery, according to his obituary.
Ferrante, 68, of Long Valley, was born in the Bronx. After two years at Manhattan College, he joined
the Army's 101st Airborne Division as a helicopter pilot. That taste of flying led to his lifelong
passion and career, with Ferrante logging more than 25,000 flight hours. During the Vietnam war,
Ferrante completed more than 2,100 hours of combat flight time and received 48 Air Medals, three
with Valor as well as a Bronze Star.
He returned to Vietnam with Air America for three years, where he met his wife Sherry in Saigon,
then worked in Iran, Mexico, the Arctic, Morocco, the Bahamas, and Saudi Arabia.
Ferrante joined Trump Airlines in 1984 and later worked as the Donald Trump's personal pilot. He
retired from the New Jersey National Guard in 2006 as a CW5 Chief Warrant Officer, which is the
highest rank achievable by an Army Warrant Officer, having spent more than 20 years serving.
In his down time, Ferrante was a skilled carpenter, builder, and loved all things mechanical,
including classic cars. It was the meticulously restored 1961 Chevrolet Corvette that Ferrante died
in.
He is survived by his wife, Sherry, daughter Nancy, and two sons, James and Warren.
A memorial celebration will be held at the Ferrante residence on May 2 from 1 to 4 p.m., and the
veteran will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to the Army Aviation
Association of America, the NJARNG Yellow Ribbon Program, or a national veterans charity of your
choice.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetary, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 09/14/2013
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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