Classmates Comments on the Passing of Ray Wollney

Thank you all for your thoughts and kind words about our classmate.

– Hank

I’m heartsick to hear of Ray’s passing.  He was a great guy and we’ll miss him at our reunion events.  I still remember losing my lunch money to him on the pool table at Robert’s, drinking a Chocolate Soldier.  Ray was a gifted athlete to boot and always brought excitement to our Fortier games.May he rest In Peace.

-Jonnie

I can safely say that I loved Ray and that we had many happy times during our lives together.  Ray was a fun full spirited man and passionate about many things.  Golf and cards bring two of them. Playing the “odds” was another! A true, happy, and successful gambler. When Ray moved to San Francisco he bought a seat on the San Francisco Stock Exchange. I remember many evenings that he would call to share his big gains or losses of the day. ( yes, this was after we were divorced)

Ray was loyal, honest, fun-loving, a good sport, friendly, and a compassionate person.

When Ray called his mother on the phone he would always say “Mother, this is Ray”, as though she didn’t know! It was always so funny!

I remember so well his skinny shoulder blades as I would snuggle under his arm and how we always twisted our feet together at night.

 I would say that if we are friends from seventh grade and or before that we are life long friends.  Those of you reading this are all in that class.  With all of our hearts, spirit, strength, concerns, and love for each other we must make sure that we keep closer in touch and cherish every day.  Ray will always be lovingly remembered.

Always, Earlyn

Very sad to hear. He was a really great guy, president of our senior class.

-Wanda

Ray will always be special to me. First of all, we share a birthday, April 4, 1945. Second, he was my ninth-grade boyfriend. What fun being walked home from McMain by the QB of the football team. I was a ninth-grade cheerleader. It was an awesome time. Ray was class President and was featured in the old Dixie Roto section of the Sunday paper. He was so special. We were so special.

Time passed as it always does. Ray and I always talked on our birthdays every year.  About 6-7 months ago we talked about a visit to New Orleans, a visit for him to see all of us. He asked to stay with me in October. I was delighted. But October came and went. We never spoke again.

I will miss my birthday twin, my ninth-grade crush, my friend.

I hope you are at peace, Ray.

I love you, Anne

Very sad to hear this.

-Ken Seelig

I was sorry to hear about Ray.  I didn’t know him well, but he seemed to be a kind & gentle guy.

-Barbara Stockton Mattingly

Ray had a passing that was far too early…  His smile and dry wit were always a bit elfish to me, mischievous but harmless.  A good friend for many years and just a delight to be around.  RIP my friend…

-Leif Pedersen

I met Ray at McMain on the baseball team in eighth grade.  Because I was shy, I found Ray very comfortable to be around because of his natural warmth and friendliness … and that great smile.

That summer he invited me over to his family’s home on Jeannette St. To me, his parents were the standard, sweet uptown mom and dad …. but I was particularly impressed with his older brother John, a mature, older guy who I admired as a role model. That summer, there were a lot of very competitive ping pong matches in the Wollney’s basement.

I would not have played baseball that summer if Ray hadn’t told me about a 14-year-old NORD team that also included Joe Matranga and Fred Helmer. The league was about to start, and it was almost too late, but Ray talked the coach into adding me to the team. We had a great season, eventually losing the city championship game. (When 9th grade came around, Ray talked me into trying football. He and Leif were our quarterbacks.)

I’m really going to miss seeing Ray, especially at our 75th Birthday Party next July. 

-Hank