He ran his school, but friends and family say, he treated everyone as an equal.
Milford High School Principal Dr. Ray Bauer was remembered Thursday night by a few thousand of his closest friends.
Students at Milford High School say Dr. Bauer was no average principal.
The football field behind at Milford High School was packed with those who wanted to show their support for a man they say touched countless lives.
It was the opposite of a small private gathering – as thousands of friends, family, staff and students poured into the football stadium at the high school to remember their principal.
"Ray came to work every day because of you,” said JoEtta Bauer, his wife. “He believed each of you has the power to make this world a better place."
Dr. Bauer died suddenly Saturday at his home in Mason after exercising.
He was 63-years-old.
"He was always willing to come up and give you a big hug and ask how you were doing,” said Erik Zamudio, a Milford senior. “He would always ask about your family. He would ask about parts of your life that you didn't even know he knew about."
"I've known Dr. Bauer – I'm the youngest of four siblings – they all graduated under him,” said Meredith Bullock, a Milford senior. “And I think that's really what I'm going to miss – is that hug at graduation that he was known for."
Students say Dr. Bauer always went the extra mile for each and every person he knew, so they did the same for him Thursday night, walking multiple silent laps around the football field in his memory.
"It's amazing to see it, because you know it's exactly what he wanted,” said Bullock. “He always wanted to bring the community together and it took this, but he did it."
Visitation for Dr. Bauer is set for this Saturday at the Faith United Methodist Church in West Chester from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Another memorial celebration service will immediately follow at the church.
