J. Richard Ray, a basketballAll-American and successful commercial
banker, died of cancer Thursday (30Dec00) at St. Joseph Mercy
Hospital-Oakland in Pontiac, MI. He was 56 and lived in Bloomfield
Hills, MI.
Mr. Ray was named a first-team High School All-American in West
Virginia, where he was known as Ricky the Rocket and played on two
NCAA tournament teams at the University of West Virginia. A team-
mate was college and NBA great Jerry West.
"He was only 6 feet 1, but he could dunk with either hand," said
his longtime friend and business partner, Hal Koss.
The two friends became part-owners od Woodward Financial Group,
a mortgage banking firm in Bloomington Hills that finances the
construction of commercial properties such as shopping centers
and office buildings.
Mr. Ray had worked in mortgage banking for 30 years.
"Rick was a friend to everyone and he knew his business inside
out," Koss said. "There's going to be people coming to the service
from all over. ... In his business, he was known locally and
nationally."
A foot injury in Ray's senior year in college ended his basketball
career, but he played pickup games throughout his life and also
became a skilled rugby player. He was past president of the Detroit
Rugby Club, and played in tournaments worldwide.
"HE was the nicest guy in the world off the field, but you didn't
want to take him on on the field," said his friend and teammate Dan
Moore.
Pat Ray, Mr. Ray's wife of nearly 30 years, said her husband was a
devoted father who regularly attended their children's lacrosse,
basketball, and football games.
"He was a good man who had a lot of friends - a wonderful husband
and father," she said. "His hospital room was overflowing every day.
Mr. Ray was born in Webster Springs, WV. He served in the U.S. Army
in Texas and Panama, attaining the rank of captain before his
discharge in 1970.
He met his future wife in Panama, while she was visiting her sister
and brother-in-law. The couple married on Valentine's Day in 1970
and moved to the Detroit area in 1971.
He is survived by his wife Pat; daughter, Kristin; son Brian; and
a brother, William Ray.
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My Last Visit With Rick submitted by John Curry.
While visiting Huntington on Thanksgiving 1999, John Peck
told me the sad news that Rick Ray had been diagnosed with cancer
of the pancreas. I was shocked and made a mental note to call or
go see Rick soon. In a conversation with John Kirtley shortly
before Christmas, I learned Rick was hospitalized possibly for the
last time. I couldn't believe how rapidly Rick had gone down hill.
Such deterioration just didn't fit my image of him. I resolved to
visit without delay.
The day after Christmas I called the Ray home and got no
answer. Using the web, I called the first hospital listed in the
vicinity of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He was there. His daughter
Kristin answered but Rick was sleeping. I told her I'd call back.
The next day, having flown from Minneapolis to Detroit, I
found myself going down the interstate being passed by car after
car displaying the flag of the Thundering Herd. This surreal
experience was more understandable when I realized St. Joseph
Mercy Hospital was within sight of the Motor City Bowl where
Marshall was playing later that day.
As I was about to enter the hospital room, Rick's wife
greeted me and Kristin was just leaving. And there, behind the
curtain, covers pulled up, was Rick; thin faced and pale, but,
no doubt, Rick. He said my name with gusto. We shook hands.
The next few hours flew by as we reminisced. Remember the
war games at Jessie James' cave? How about the time you ran over
me on your bicycle on 8th street?? Drag racing on the boulevard
in your mother's ford coupe?? Or was it the Nash? How about so
and so ---remember her? Despite being sedated, he smiled a lot
and even suggested we all get up and go to the Marshall game
where he "would know a lot of people" .
Relatives came and went as did Al, Rick's close friend from
the rugby team. They discussed various incidents from the days
when they were both active players. It was no surprise that in
adult life Rick had found another sport into which to apply his
considerable natural athletic ability. He probably devoted more
years of his life to rugby than to basketball. By late afternoon,
it was, sadly, time to say good-by. As I got on my feet and stood
close to his bed, Rick reached up and gave me a strong and long
bear hug. There was no hiding the tears his surprising strength
squeezed from me.
A few days later Kristin called to tell me her Dad had died.
I decided to return for the service. To an outsider, the very
large crowd in attendance suggested the high esteem in which Rick
and his family were held in the community. The ceremony included
anecdotes by friends and investment banking business associates
and the songs "Country Roads" and "Life is Like A Mountain Railway",
two of his favorites sung by a folk singer friend.
The service was followed by a wake at a nearby Irish pub.
It didn't take a very sharp ear in the crowd to hear many more
testimonials as to how Rick had influenced many of the
participants' lives. The pub already had a plaque engraved
"Rick Ray- The Rocket - 1943 -1999" installed over the bar.
I've talked to several people in the past year who knew
Rick in his early days. Given his athletic ability, strength
and general enthusiasm for life, he was the one, we all agreed,
most likely to out live us all. Sadly, he was one of the first
to go, but be assured he faced his mortality with the same courage
and intensity he faced life and left a beautiful legacy of a
loving family and friends.