Ray McCaffrey Returns to his Ray-Jay Roots in Brooklyn
[Photo by Leigh McManus]
Proudly pictured (l-2-r): Willson
L. Henderson, S.V.A. President
(wearing red shirt and blond hair);
Ray McCaffrey, S.V.A. Financial
Secretary (wearing white shirt and
white cap); Ed Heffernan,
S.V.A.
Executive Committee (wearing black hat and white beard); David
Jenkins-Foxworth, S.V.A. Social Chairperson (wearing black
jacket and white
tie); and
Tony Phillips, Next Magazine
Editor (wearing burgundy shirt and brown
beard), author of "A
Visit with the Stonewall Veterans", a popular,
enduring article about the
STONEWALL Veterans' Association.
This event is for the annual Brooklyn
G.L.B.T. Pride Festival and Parade.
The photo location is
on Prospect Park West (adjacent to the park) in Brooklyn, New York.
As planned, the blue 1969 convertible "Stonewall Car" -- which used to
spend
significant time in Brooklyn and the pride of
Brooklyn today -- was on display during the rally and the entertainment
show and for the pre-parade line-up later. After the above photo
was taken, the S.V.A. officers present (except one) -- including
Ray, Willson, Storme DeLarverie,
Jeremiah Newton, Keith
Lonesome and Rev. Magora
Kennedy -- are about to go on stage for
the 2002 Brooklyn G.L.B.T. Pride Rally.
The SVA-ers
were presented to the big outdoor audience and after
self-introducing each Stonewall vet, Willson spoke to the
wildly cheering crowd. Not shown are Leigh McManus, S.V.A. Stonewall
Newzletta editor; Ramon Bellido, S.V.A. Boardmember; and Electra O'Mara,
S.V.A. Secretary. The S.V.A. Treasurer Terri Van
Dyke, also a dear friend of Ray, was happily with us with
the
grand "Stonewall Car" for this outing but,
still ailing, he stayed seated in the open Stonewall
convertible during the rally.
When we all went out to eat later at the nearby Circle
Restaurant, kind Ray
kindly treated Terri to a quality dinner. (Brooklyn Pride
provided no accommodations or reimbursements for the S.V.A. or any
Stonewall vets or the famous car.)
Ray McCaffrey in Good Ole Greenwich Village
[Photo by cafe waiter Rudi Sarceno]
| After one of the G.L.B.T. Pride parades (Queens), Ray McCaffrey
(left) and pal Willson Henderson, S.V.A. director, enjoy outdoor
cocktails and supper with other SVA-ers at one of their favorite restaurants, the Hudson
Corner Cafe. You can't miss the phenomenal 1969 classic convertible "Stonewall Car"
bigger than life in broad daylight -- with one of the rare pix showing
the glowing 1969 Cadillac "lantern" tail lamps. |
Raymond J. McCaffrey with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion
[Photography by the Office of the Mayor of the City of
New York]
| Smilin' Ray McCaffrey, S.V.A. Financial Secretary, with
New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg at his second annual
G.L.B.T. Pride celebration at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, New
York, on Thursday, June 26, 2003. All of the S.V.A.
officials and officers in good standing are invited every year to this
impressive event, as has been the respectful tradition through several
mayors commencing with Ray's favorite, the great Ed Koch! |
Best Wishes to Raymond J. McCaffrey from President George W.
Bush, Jr.
[Photography by the Office of the President of the
United States]
Ray's lovely, appreciative and heartfelt 2004 Holiday Letter
to pal
Willson
(Letter was included for Willson with Ray's
beautiful Christmas
card.)
*
National Public Radio ("NPR") Special in 2005
Wanna actually hear Ray? Visit: www.NPR.org.
Enter three 'search' words: STONEWALL
Veterans' Association
Story title appears: "Stonewall Anniversary Unites Police,
Patrons"
Click on the highlighted Stonewall story title
Click on "Listen" button (circled in red) to hear a clip of the
interesting interview
by Margot Adler with Ray McCaffrey -- and Willson Henderson and
Bill
Salzman -- of the National STONEWALL Veterans Association
in the
U.S.A.
*
Remembering..... Raymond James "Ray-Jay" McCaffrey
Sunrise: 20 February 1932 (NY) ///// Sunset: 8 April 2019 (NJ)
*
Transition Notice for R.J.M. Appeared in "City And State New York"
IN MEMORIAM: Raymond J. "Ray-Jay" McCaffrey, a member of the
board of directors of the
STONEWALL Veterans Association, died
peacefully at his home on Monday, April 8th, 2019.
*
Original Message -----------------------------
Subject: Remembering Ray-Jay McCaffrey
From: "Willson L. Henderson" <WLH@nyct.net>
Date: Thu., April 9, 2020, 6:27 pm
To: "Lisa Ann McCaffrey" <LisaMcCaffrey52@Yahoo.com>
---------------------------------------------------------
8 April 2020
Greetings, Lisa, dear Daughter of Ray J. McCaffrey,
It is incredible that it has been a year since we lost our
longtime friend and colleague and your dad, Ray McCaffrey!
Luckily, Ray-Jay had a full and long life; he greatly enjoyed!
As U know very well, Ray would want to be remembered, and
he is! He would also be horrified by the Wuhan, China virus,
how it really started, and the Communist Chinese gov't cover-up!
S.V.A. Veteran + Official Raymond J. McCaffrey:
https://www.StonewallVets.org/RayMcCaffrey.htm
Hope U, Lisa, are okay across-the-board! Regards to your brother.
Pridely,
Willson
212-369-1969 (office)
https://www.StonewallVets.org/upcomingevents.htm
20th February
2022
Remembering much-missed Ray-Jay: Memorial Birthday!
*
=====2022:
53rd Anniversary of historic Stonewall Rebellion=====
[Friday night, June 27
~through~ Thursday evening, July 3, 1969, Manhattan, New York City]
