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Post by Hawks on Mar 14, 2022 9:42:45 GMT -5
So, some of you are probably wondering what happened to Ray, Philly, my Father and why he isn't around anymore. Basically the long and short of it is his health has taken a bad turn this past year and he doesn't show much improvement since. Around the time of his last login (I wanna say maybe in June?), he apparently went for a walk, collapsed, and was taken to a hospital, he has COPD and has to wear oxygen so he can breathe at this point (which is often gets stubborn about doing), the worst part of it is his memory, specifically his short term memory which has gotten so bad he generally can't remember things on a day-to-day basis. He is no longer mentally capable of running his team anymore, or even using his computer anymore, which he why he hasn't been around. I waited awhile to tell everyone cause I know how prideful he can be and didn't want him to randomly show up, see that i told everyone about his condition, and get upset and embarrassed, but I figured I need to tell everyone eventually. He is still alive and kicking, for now, which is longer than I honestly expected him to last, but we don't know how much longer that will be the case. Jon and I talked about retiring his team (the name, not the players) sorta as a way to raise his numbers to the rafters, since he's been with us since the start, and thats something I'd like to still do. We if continue with current rosters, I'd like to retire the Flyers from the league, re-name the team, and get a new GM for it. If we restart, still retire the Flyers, but obviously at that point the players will be redrafted. Hope you all agree with that plan. Anyway, thats the deal, feel free to ask any questions you wish, I'll try to answer them, but given that he is in Florida and I am in Virginia and haven't been able to afford to go down there, I might not have all the specific answers. Mother and I have been trying to make plans to go down there and get power of attorney over his interests (cause he certainly can't manage them anymore), but money has been tight and plans keep falling through. He does have a sorta "caretaker" in a local friend thats been helping them out, but we honestly don't know if he is on the up-and-up, Dad is certainly paranoid about him at this point, its sorta a mess. JGHL Philadelphia Flyers - 2003 - 2022
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Post by Nordiques - Chris on Mar 14, 2022 11:59:54 GMT -5
Hey Gavin man - very much appreciate this update on our ole friend Ray. We (and I) definitely miss his presence. Think a lot of us have sensed something and wanted to be respectful to you and him.
Really sorry to hear about his health decline. Sucks, no matter how you shake it. Almost lost my father Nov 2020 (I was literally on the phone with a nurse giving me an update and it wasn't looking good, when he coded and they hung up on me to work on him - inexplicably, long story short, lengthy ICU stay later, he's actually doing decent now, but lives on other side of the country).
Ray was an amazing and special presence in this league from the get go. I'd dare say he was the most active around here on the msg board and never hesitated to help out new/newer GMs as well. He was just damn fun to catch up with on life in general.
Retiring the Flyers as you mentioned is definitely the least we can do. Maybe we could even have a yearly award in his name as well - maybe voted as most helpful/kindest person on the message board or some such thing!? But honouring the Flyers is super cool idea!
Hope you and family can iron out some of the other details involved in his care and power-of-attorney, etc. Hang in there, man. Know that his JGHL family has him in our thoughts.
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Post by Isles-Aaron on Mar 14, 2022 12:58:26 GMT -5
Hey Gavin man - very much appreciate this update on our ole friend Ray. We (and I) definitely miss his presence. Think a lot of us have sensed something and wanted to be respectful to you and him. Really sorry to hear about his health decline. Sucks, no matter how you shake it. Almost lost my father Nov 2020 (I was literally on the phone with a nurse giving me an update and it wasn't looking good, when he coded and they hung up on me to work on him - inexplicably, long story short, lengthy ICU stay later, he's actually doing decent now, but lives on other side of the country). Ray was an amazing and special presence in this league from the get go. I'd dare say he was the most active around here on the msg board and never hesitated to help out new/newer GMs as well. He was just damn fun to catch up with on life in general. Retiring the Flyers as you mentioned is definitely the least we can do. Maybe we could even have a yearly award in his name as well - maybe voted as most helpful/kindest person on the message board or some such thing!? But honouring the Flyers is super cool idea! Hope you and family can iron out some of the other details involved in his care and power-of-attorney, etc. Hang in there, man. Know that his JGHL family has him in our thoughts. Hey Gavin, I share Chris thoughts about everything, has to be tough going for your family. I thing the banner is a great idea, maybe a J hall of fame page can be added with your dad being the inaugural member
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Post by SensGM on Mar 14, 2022 17:34:09 GMT -5
Gavin really sorry to hear about your dad. Ray was one of the gms that really helped me when i first got on to the site and its unfortunate that he wont be around anymore. I think its great idea to retire his team, we could even discuss naming the gm of year award after him?
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Post by RedWings_Mike on Mar 15, 2022 16:02:33 GMT -5
Gavin sorry to hear about what's going on with your dad, I am totally down to retire the Flyers, he was a great rival during my short stint here in the J. We can implement the same team but with a Columbus BJ's logo if we have to, or another team I am forgetting about?
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Post by MontyBurns on Mar 15, 2022 18:22:30 GMT -5
Thank you for filling us in Gavin.
My thoughts are with both your dad and you. Hes been such a cool and fun guy for so long, I had and will always have a ton of respect for him.
I am 100% down to do a retirement in his honour.
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Post by WHALERS_GM_AL on Mar 16, 2022 11:25:24 GMT -5
Hey Gavin man - very much appreciate this update on our ole friend Ray. We (and I) definitely miss his presence. Think a lot of us have sensed something and wanted to be respectful to you and him. Really sorry to hear about his health decline. Sucks, no matter how you shake it. Almost lost my father Nov 2020 (I was literally on the phone with a nurse giving me an update and it wasn't looking good, when he coded and they hung up on me to work on him - inexplicably, long story short, lengthy ICU stay later, he's actually doing decent now, but lives on other side of the country). Ray was an amazing and special presence in this league from the get go. I'd dare say he was the most active around here on the msg board and never hesitated to help out new/newer GMs as well. He was just damn fun to catch up with on life in general. Retiring the Flyers as you mentioned is definitely the least we can do. Maybe we could even have a yearly award in his name as well - maybe voted as most helpful/kindest person on the message board or some such thing!? But honouring the Flyers is super cool idea! Hope you and family can iron out some of the other details involved in his care and power-of-attorney, etc. Hang in there, man. Know that his JGHL family has him in our thoughts. Hey Gavin, I also share Chris' thoughts and words above. And thank you for this update. Your dad really helped me a lot when I first joined the league, and I always had so much respect and admiration for him. There was even a talk of possibly meeting him one time when I went to visit my parents in Florida, but unfortunately, my parents lived too far. I also agree that the Flyers should be retired and replace with a different name. And maybe rename the GM of the year in his honour.
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Post by Hawks on Mar 16, 2022 12:38:46 GMT -5
Gavin sorry to hear about what's going on with your dad, I am totally down to retire the Flyers, he was a great rival during my short stint here in the J. We can implement the same team but with a Columbus BJ's logo if we have to, or another team I am forgetting about? Ottawa
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Post by Hawks on Mar 16, 2022 13:01:30 GMT -5
Thanks all for your kind words, I'll pass along the well wishes next time i get a chance to speak with him
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Post by Sharky on Mar 20, 2022 1:48:48 GMT -5
Thinking of you and your family โฆ. I donโt know what else to say Ray was a mainstay here. I wouldnโt want anyone else running the Flyers, so Iโm fine with retiring the franchise.
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Post by CanesGM on Mar 25, 2022 16:31:27 GMT -5
Gavin, Thanks for the update and so sorry to hear about Rays health. Had some great conversations in the beginning and trade talk thru out. Speaking as an OG, it would be a great idea to retire Philly and honor Rays contribution to the league with an award named after him.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2022 14:03:12 GMT -5
Gavin, thank you for the update on Ray's health, thinking about you and your family. I remember when I came into the league, he helped me through quite a bit and was always up for a discussion on trade. Never once did he ever say to me, "we've got nothing to talk about" or "not interested in any of your guys". If him and I tried hard enough, a deal would get done. I always admired how he was never a guy that was going to rebuild and every year he was always competing. I always thought, it has to run out at some point.. but man he was always.. ALWAYS in the thick of things.
If Jon and Gavin were the backbone of the league, then Ray was certainly the heartbeat. I wouldn't have an issue retiring the Flyers, but I do think it would be a shame to not have such a storied franchise in the league any longer. Whether we do it or not, I'd like to suggest that we definitely name the GM award after Ray.
Just my two cents.
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Post by RangersRon on Mar 28, 2022 12:05:27 GMT -5
I like idea of naming GM award after Ray, I know he would love it and well deserved. He always was there to help the new guys! As far as removing Philly team from league, I have mixed emotions, but whatever the league decides I support the majority! I know such a copout but as the oldest guy in league now, I have right to leave to the young bucks!
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