murkat Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Wow. Ray is a jem. Judy will be bummed to hear about this. We always hanged together while at the Chicago gatherings. I'm going to miss him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerDave Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 I had the pleasure of traveling with Ray to a few concerts and HFC events when I lived in Minneapolis. He was always enthusiastic about a current interest, be it a guitar, performance or work. Ray taught me everything I know about 3D copying technology on a drive to the Zoo to see Los Lobos. This is very sad news, we hadn't spoken in a while, but I feel lucky to have known Ray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svl Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Just seeing this. Ray was a fantastic person, always loved chatting with him. My heart goes out to Sue & his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugby1970 Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Wow, I totally missed this. Very tragic and very sad. I bought an amp from Ray and we spoke on the phone several times regarding it. Ray was very nice, outgoing and very friendly. Again, wow. One of my favorite novels contains this phrase: "Rats get fat and good men die". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixesandsevens Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 RIP Ray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudshark Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 rip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 This is the earliest photo I've found yet, taken in the kitchen at the 4-3-2-1 Club on July 21, 2007. Here's to you, Ray! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 And here's the first photos I have of Ray in action at the 4-3-2-1 Club (drinking isn't really action, is it?), taken on November 10, 2007. My memory is foggy, but I must have sold him the orange Newport in June, 2007, I'm thinking. He showed up to the first party, and most of the parties thereafter, until he couldn't any more. I miss Ray, and more broadly, I'm now missing ALL my HFC friends. We most certainly have missed an HFC Jam this spring, and who knows when the next one will be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 I reached out to Ray's daughter earlier this morning, hoping to talk to Ray's wife, Sue. I tried to contact Sue soon after Ray's passing, but she never returned my calls. Here is the response I received:Hi Bruce! I miss him everyday, it’s so nice to have a few of his connections on Facebook so I can think of him when I see your names. Unfortunately Sue passed away last May.. she was really struggling without my dad. Rest in peace, Sue. You were a dear, sweet woman and a wonderful complement to Ray. Here's a pic I took of her on one of her first visits to the 4-3-2-1 Club. This was March 1, 2008, so there was a chill in the basement. I had loaned Sue my smoking jacket from the HerBavor collection, and she wore it well! She was always a little self-conscious as one of the few women in attendance, but she warmed up to the guys and was very much a regular at the 4-3-2-1. I miss Ray and Sue both. She was a dear friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubs_42 Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 That is heartbreaking, but thank you for sharing. I still think of Ray, he was the only person that would just cold call me out of the blue from time to time. We would talk guitars, manufacturing, music. Oh, and lets not forget daughters. LOL Once I had my first he would say, "Just wait" and follow it with a chuckle. He was right. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 12 minutes ago, BruceM said: This was March 1, 2008, so there was a chill in the basement. Yeah, no shit. Late February, 2018 "in the basement." By the way, if this isn't the perfect expression of every woman at her SO's guitar get-together... "Is this just about over?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, kizanski said: Yeah, no shit. Late February, 2018 "in the basement." Technically, you're "above the basement" in this photo, but yeah. As Poe would say: ROTFLMFAO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Just now, BruceM said: Technically, you're "above the basement" in this photo, but yeah. As Poe would say: ROTFLMFAO Both points correct. That's not the basement (oops) and @edgar_allan_poe is an idiot (I'm just quoting his wife). Here we go. Same day, actually in the basement this time. Same late winter chill. BTW: Speaking of "chill"... @hikarateboy rockin' the cardigan in this pic. I could never pull off that look. He looks warm and chill at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 18 minutes ago, kizanski said: "Is this just about over?" Bedroom eyes. But actually, as I recall, she simply didn't like to have her picture taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, BruceM said: Bedroom eyes. Basement eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 I can't resist a man who come hithers over readers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 28 minutes ago, BruceM said: I can't resist a man who come hithers over readers. Nor should you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Just because. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Today is Ray's birthday. I didn't normally celebrate birthdays with him, but I was reminded today by FB. It's been almost 2 years since the last official 4-3-2-1 Club HFC gathering. It's almost time, don't you think? Frozen Jam 2022, perhaps. This is pic is from 2013, of Ray, myself and Ted. Sure would be good to see Ray again. I wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonge Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 7:00 PM, BruceM said: Just because. right-clicked and saved... now the story Ray called me one day and asked me if I was anywhere near Providence, RI and if I could make a run for him. He had paid for the guitar, and I checked it out on his behalf and brought it home when he determined he was cool with it. I took the guitar out to the factory and apparently Jol was blasting it and terrorizing everyone (there was a photo of Jol with it). I eventually boxed it up and shipped it him, but asked him if he ever wanted to sell I was interested because "that bridge pickup sounded like bacon frying" to me. Some years later he called me and gave me a chance, and it still resides here and I can't pick it up without thinking how good a guy he was. There are a more than a few good folks I've met through this board, and he was certainly one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubs_42 Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I would get random phone calls from Ray, we would talk shop, guitars, and daughters. My youngest Olivia shares the same birthday as Ray. I miss Ray and our talks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTMN Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Took Ray on A tour of Dean when he was in Tampa Bay area. Ended up dropping a huge chunk of money on the V/SG looking block of Korina. Ray was no help in stopping me when we walked in the custom shop with no parts on it. 😵💫 Ray also talked me in to doing a body swap on a pair of T-51s. I wanted a Natural finish with a black guard and maple neck. I had the neck and guard. Ray had the body. He wanted a Creamy White body with a Rosewood neck and Tortoise guard. He had the neck and the guard. I had the body. 😈We miss ya Ray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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