Bio

Ray Neveau, a 1981 UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame inductee who prospered in basketball and baseball for the Titans from 1963-65, passed away Sunday (Oct. 31) in Oshkosh.

Neveau was born on January 13, 1941, in Niagara, Wis., to Arnold and Jennie Neveau and was raised by Phil and Stella Meyers. He was married to Sharon (Murray) Neveau, the love of his life, for 60 years. Neveau was a graduate of Niagara High School and UW-Oshkosh, where he received a bachelor's degree in business.

Neveau played three seasons of basketball for the Titans from 1963-65. He averaged 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game during the 1963 season to help UW-Oshkosh to a 15-10 record, a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, and an appearance in the first round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Playing baseball for UW-Oshkosh, Neveau helped the Titans to a 29-14 record, including a WIAC championship in 1963. Neveau hit a WIAC-leading .419 with three home runs in 1964 before closing his UW-Oshkosh career with a .351 batting average and five doubles in 1965.

Neveau displayed a deep love and devotion to his family. He shared in the respective activities of his sons with great joy. With Brian, a former UW-Oshkosh baseball player, this meant being his greatest supporter in whatever sport he was competing in at the time. With Greg, this meant snowmobiling, boating, and working on numerous household projects. Moreover, Neveau appreciated the addition of two daughters-in-law, Meghan and Deb, to his family. The love he showed to his children also extended to his grandchildren - Nathan (Ashlyn), Erin (Josh Hassman), Luke, Lauren (Jacob Derenne) and Libby. He lived and loved to support them in their endeavors.

Throughout Neveau's lifetime, he developed many lifelong friendships with teammates from Tommy's Angels, softball players throughout the softball community, handball players around the country, and customers and co-workers – who Neveau saw as much more than that – while he worked at Cryovac. His charismatic laugh, good-humored jokes and genuine love for others enriched the lives of all who knew him.

In addition to the relationships that sports provided, Neveau achieved numerous athletic accomplishments. He also was a three-time national handball champion and an All-World softball player.

Neveau's survivors include his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters Rosemary and Debbie, his brothers Phillip and Fred, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.