A 65-year-old Elizabethtown man known here and abroad for his volunteer work was slain outside his home Wednesday night.

Ray Diener of 1016 West Ridge Road was assaulted around 10:30 p.m. and died from his injuries at the scene, according to Northwest Regional Police and Lancaster County District Attorney Don Totaro.

A policeman at the scene who did not give his name said Diener had been shot.

Totaro would not confirm that detail this morning.

"It is a homicide investigation," Totaro said.

Neighbors and friends contacted this morning agreed with West Donegal Township Manager Nick Viscome's assessment of Diener.

"He was like the perfect citizen," Viscome said. "Ray was an absolute, consummate gentleman."

Diener worked in other countries to help poor people access drinkable water.

He was an Elizabethtown College baseball star in the 1960s and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. Diener's wife, Barbara, was at home at the time and summoned police, Totaro said.

He would not say how the homicide happened, whether or not it was random, or if neighbors should take extra safety precautions.

Northwest Regional Police also released very little information this morning.

In an early morning press release, they said they responded to the Diener residence after a 10:45 p.m. call of a reported assault.

On their arrival, police found Diener outside his home. Investigators said he "died from his injuries at the scene."

Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Dr. Miles G. Newman pronounced Diener dead at 11 p.m., according to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Gary Kirchner.

Kirchner said an autopsy was scheduled for today.

 "Lancaster County detectives, the county major crimes unit and the county forensics team are assisting Northwest Regional Police," Totaro said.

Nextdoor neighbors Cloyd and Marie Martin of 996 W. Ridge Road were stunned this morning.

"I can't imagine someone doing something like this to him," Mrs. Martin said.

"I never even heard him swear," her husband interjected.

The Martins were awakened Wednesday night by the commotion. Martin said he saw what he believed to be a body lying covered on the Dieners' front doorstep.

The Dieners' son-in-law told them that Diener had returned home from a softball game sometime after 10 p.m.

He walked into the house and told his wife he was home. She then heard voices outside.

When she went outside, her husband was lying at front door, the Martins were told.

The Martins said the Dieners have two adult daughters and a son, none of whom live in Lancaster County.

They also have five grandchildren.

Diener was president of Elizabethtown Crystal Pure Water.

Today the chairman of Messiah College's engineering department, Carl A. Erikson Jr., said that Diener's contributions go far beyond his professional life.

In 2002, Diener was instrumental in starting Messiah College's Water for the World project in its School of Mathematics, Engineering and Business.

"He became our technical adviser as well as helping supply finances for water purification systems in Guatemala and Honduras," Erikson said. "He was a valued friend to the college and department as well as a good personal friend. He will be missed."

Diener traveled to Guatemala in 2003 and Honduras in 2006 to help poor people convert unpure water to drinking water.

Erikson said Diener was planning to return to Honduras this year.

On Friday Diener had attended a special event at the college honoring a group of students for their water-purifying project, Erikson said.

"He even sampled the water," Erikson said.

Neighbors said Diener also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity

They were shocked and upset by Diener's death.

"He was a wonderful, kind, friendly, mild-mannered man," said Arlene Fry, of 1046 W. Ridge Road. "We were very close."

Diener had served on the West Donegal Township sewer/water authority and had been "fair and well-spoken," according to Viscome.

Diener was a star athlete at Elizabethtown College in the early 1960s, excelling as a baseball pitcher, basketball guard and forward, and soccer goalie, according to New Era files.

Baseball, though, was his best sport. The lefthander at one time held the college's record for single-season strikeouts (93 strikeouts in 56 and two-thirds innings, achieved in1962).

His record for career strikeouts — 264 strikeouts in 172 and two-thirds innings — still stands. According to newspaper records, Diener signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He graduated from Elizabethtown College in 1965.

The Lebanon County native was in the first class of inductees to Elizabethtown College's Athletic Hall of Fame, named in 1975 with nine other alumni, including then-Duke University head basketball coach Bill Foster.

Police are requesting that anyone who was in the vicinity of 1016 W. Ridge Road Wednesday night or who may have information, to call 367-8481.

(Staff writer Tim Mekeel contributed to this report).

CONTACT US: rrobinson@LNPnews.com or 481-6032