My Uncle Ray passed away on July 31st. Uncle Ray was a big man in many ways (he loved to eat), a sweet man who loved his family (especially his nephew Eddie), his church (St. Nicholas) and the American Legion. Ray was the kind of person who could make you crazy but who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was stationed in the Philippines during WWII, the above photo. He worked for the Passaic Sheriff's department as a bailiff. Ray never married and lived for many years with his older brother John in the house they were raised in. The family story was that Ray said if he ever got married, his wife would have to live with his mother for a week to learn how to take care of him. Ray spent his last few years in a nursing home due to his multiple illnesses. It is a testament to his wonderful personality that many of the nursing home staff and even the administrator came to pay their respects to Ray. Members of the American Legion and the sheriff's office were also present. I think I heard almost as many people mention "The Coach" in talking to Uncle Bill. That would be my grandfather who coached football at Passaic High School and was greatly respected. Bill and Dorothy were wonderful to take me over for a last look at the house on Pennington Ave were my mom lived most of her childhood. It was very hard when my mother died and it felt a little like losing another connection to my mom, but Bill shared with me some of her pictures, a yearbook and her college certificates. I'll be passing these on to Dad. Bill was the youngest of the siblings - and now the last of his siblings (in order - John, Mary Jane, Ray, Eddie and Bill). I was very thankful to have the opportunity to take some pictures of the house. After I returned to the hotel, I convinced Joe to come with me to Rutt's Hut, a bar/restaurant famous for their deep fried hot dogs, to grab some dinner. Rutt's Hut was a favorite of Uncle Ray's and he took Eddie there for many a hot dog. As it happens, we got to meet the owner and had a good time chatting with him after finishing our dinner of fried hotdogs, cold beer and old fashioned bread pudding. I did not see my Uncle Ray often, but I will miss knowing he is around and hearing stories about him. My favorite from the last few days was that Ray wanted to go to the annual festival at St. Nick's (only a couple of blocks away from the nursing home) and had managed to wheel his chair out the front door of the nursing home. He had almost made good his escape when the deacon from St. Nick's came to visit him and asked Ray where he thought he was going. To the festival Ray told him. Ray was planning to wheel himself there. Ray was quite disappointed when one of the nursing staff appeared and told he couldn't do that without permission and an escort.
Ray's dress cap from the Sheriff's office.
The house on Pennington Ave.
Rutt's Hut
Dinner in Ray's honor.
My Uncle Ray passed away on July 31st. Uncle Ray was a big man in many ways (he loved to eat), a sweet man who loved his family (especially his nephew Eddie), his church (St. Nicholas) and the American Legion. Ray was the kind of person who could make you crazy but who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was stationed in the Philippines during WWII, the above photo. He worked for the Passaic Sheriff's department as a bailiff. Ray never married and lived for many years with his older brother John in the house they were raised in. The family story was that Ray said if he ever got married, his wife would have to live with his mother for a week to learn how to take care of him. Ray spent his last few years in a nursing home due to his multiple illnesses. It is a testament to his wonderful personality that many of the nursing home staff and even the administrator came to pay their respects to Ray. Members of the American Legion and the sheriff's office were also present. I think I heard almost as many people mention "The Coach" in talking to Uncle Bill. That would be my grandfather who coached football at Passaic High School and was greatly respected. Bill and Dorothy were wonderful to take me over for a last look at the house on Pennington Ave were my mom lived most of her childhood. It was very hard when my mother died and it felt a little like losing another connection to my mom, but Bill shared with me some of her pictures, a yearbook and her college certificates. I'll be passing these on to Dad. Bill was the youngest of the siblings - and now the last of his siblings (in order - John, Mary Jane, Ray, Eddie and Bill). I was very thankful to have the opportunity to take some pictures of the house. After I returned to the hotel, I convinced Joe to come with me to Rutt's Hut, a bar/restaurant famous for their deep fried hot dogs, to grab some dinner. Rutt's Hut was a favorite of Uncle Ray's and he took Eddie there for many a hot dog. As it happens, we got to meet the owner and had a good time chatting with him after finishing our dinner of fried hotdogs, cold beer and old fashioned bread pudding. I did not see my Uncle Ray often, but I will miss knowing he is around and hearing stories about him. My favorite from the last few days was that Ray wanted to go to the annual festival at St. Nick's (only a couple of blocks away from the nursing home) and had managed to wheel his chair out the front door of the nursing home. He had almost made good his escape when the deacon from St. Nick's came to visit him and asked Ray where he thought he was going. To the festival Ray told him. Ray was planning to wheel himself there. Ray was quite disappointed when one of the nursing staff appeared and told he couldn't do that without permission and an escort.
Ray's dress cap from the Sheriff's office.
The house on Pennington Ave.
Rutt's Hut
Dinner in Ray's honor.
1 comment:
A very nice blog. I hadn't seen the army picture before; he was a very good looking young man!
Dad
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