Letter: In honor of Ray Castro, from the Class of 1959

Posted 9/9/21

I would like to thank the Bristol Phoenix for publishing the article about Ray Castro by Manny Correira , and thank you Manny for taking the time and making the effort to write such an article.

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Letter: In honor of Ray Castro, from the Class of 1959

Posted

I would like to thank the Bristol Phoenix for publishing the article about Ray Castro by Manny Correira, and thank you Manny for taking the time and making the effort to write such an article.

As a friend and high school classmate of Ray, I enjoyed reading about him and his career. Ray’s qualities, as pointed out by Manny, were as good in high school as they were in his adult life. Ray truly got along with everyone, and we had some good fun during our school years. I lost track of Ray for many years as I enlisted in the military and spent years away from my home town. 

Several years ago, I attended a celebration of life for another classmate who had passed away at the Rhode Island Veterans’ Home in Bristol. Friends and family were there, along with a group of classmates. Ray was among them and he made it a point to meet with me. Of course I was happy to see him again, but the connection was fleeting as the ceremony had a schedule we had to keep.

In 2019 I was back again in Bristol for a class reunion. During the time I was in town, I had occasion to go down to the Prudence Dock reliving some old memories. On my way back I passed in front of the Defiance Fire Station. Of course the large bay door was open, and as I glanced inside I saw two old hands sitting there. I immediately recognized Ray, so I walked into the station and started speaking to him.

He suddenly said, “Hey, I know you!” Unable to contain myself, I laughed and said, “Yes, and I know you Ray!” He suddenly blurted out my name and we spent a very pleasurable 20 or 30 minutes catching up. Maybe Manny was the guy with him, I don’t remember. Nothing had changed. Still the same old likeable Ray.  

A few months ago I received word from one of our class members who has taken it upon himself to gather and forward any information of interest to members of our class. He wrote that he had received word that Ray was not doing well, and now he is gone. I know Ray is in Heaven. I do look forward to our meeting once again, but I hope he will forgive me if I don’t rush the moving in. Rest in peace Ray. We miss you!

John D. Borges
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Member of the Bristol High School Class of 1959

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