Raymond 'Skip' McGilvray ... active in Rochester sports

ROCHESTER - Raymond E. "Skip" McGilvray, 89, of Rochester died peacefully at Frisbie Memorial Hospital after a period of failing health.
Born in Waltham, Mass. on Nov. 8, 1929, he was the son of the late Reece E. and Florence R. (LaRosee) McGilvray. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1947. As a youth, he played playground baseball, and was a member of both the "Rock Alley" and "Top Hatter" semi-pro football teams. He was an original member of the "Les Debonaires" group of St. Joseph's Church, and appeared in numerous annual musical revues. He was also a charter member of the Waltham Sea Scouts, and a member of the secret CRWR ("Charles River Water Rats"). He was also a Past Grand Knight of Knight of Columbus Maynard, Mass. Council 2121.
Ray joined the Navy in January 1951 and was honorably discharged in December 1955, with the rank of Storekeeper First Class. He served aboard the repair ship USS Ajax (AR-6) during the Korean Conflict, with three tours of Japan. His last duty post was the establishment of a base landing in what is now DaNang, Vietnam, supporting the evacuation of civilians from North Vietnam to South Vietnam in the summer and fall of 1955.
Ray had a strong commitment to youth sports. After moving to Rochester in 1976, for many years he managed and coached teams for Rochester Babe Ruth and in the Pee Wee division of Rochester Youth Hockey. He was the longtime Vice President of the Rochester Babe Ruth League, Vice President of the Rochester Athletic Association and a member of the Rochester Arena Commission. He was also the color commentator for Spaulding HS hockey games for Cablevision, and an announcer for Rochester Youth Football Little Raiders.
He was inducted into the Rochester Elks Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 as a contributor, and was honored by the SGMA "Heroes" Program. Over the years, he was also honored as the Volunteer of the Year by the Rochester Grange, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Recreation Commission, and was the recipient of the Maurice Sanfacon Award and the George Scribner Award for volunteerism.
Ray is survived by his four children, Brian McGilvray and wife Amy of Wyoming, Mich.; Glenn McGilvray and wife Lisa of New Durham, Gary McGilvray and wife Robin of Milton, and Cheryl Robicheau and husband Lance of Rochester; grandchildren Matthew, Joshua, Molly, Meaghan, DJ, Jesse and Paige; great-grandchildren Maddyn, Audrey, Joseph and Ivan; his brother Ronald McGilvray and wife Mary of Marlboro Mass., sister-in-law Irene Belcher of Waltham, Mass. and niece Christine Belcher of Alexandria, Va., as well as many other nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of over 60 years, Rita (Doucet) McGilvray, and siblings Reece E. McGilvray, Jr., Sylva Langevin, Kenneth McGilvray, Florence Lash, Sr. Janet McGilvray, RCE, Martha Tambascio, Robert McGilvray and Thomas McGilvray.