Remembering A Dear Friend

I knew and worked with Ray for 15 years. While working part-time, I became very friendly with two other women who also worked part-time. Because of our limited hours, we always ate lunch at our desks, grabbing a quick bite between phone calls and meetings. One Friday, however, we decided to go out to lunch. We went into Ray’s office to tell him we were leaving and would be back in about an hour. He looked up from his desk, smiled, and took his credit card from his wallet and handed it to us. “Just bring it back on Monday”, he said, laughing. We had a wonderful afternoon.

For me, that story epitomizes Ray’s character. He was always ready to give his time, his generosity and his expertise to anyone, without being asked or expected of him. The number of organizations he helped and volunteered with is almost too numerous to mention, from playing Clarinet with the Westerly Band, to sponsoring a team in almost every recreational youth sports program in Westerly, to serving on the Board of Trustees for the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association.

Ray lost his two year battle with brain cancer on Jan. 9, 2010. He leaves behind a hole in the community that will be impossible to fill and an even bigger hole in the hearts of those he leaves behind.

-Alisa Morrison, WPWA Board Member