Condolence From Bobby Nader of Tampa, FL

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:15:54 EDT

I have known Ray Ganim since I first came into this world 71 years ago, having been born in the 47th Street home where he lived on the first floor along with his marvelous parents, Tom and Nellie, my lovely God-Mother, his affectionate brother Donald, his grandmother, my great-grandmother, Sultana "Tata" Farrah, and their dog Pudgy. Remarkably, his Aunt Matil, Nellie's sister, his cousins Vivian Nader, nee Zrake, my Mom, Gabe Kouchary, Eli Zrake, and George Zrake, and my Dad Eli Nader all lived together above on the second floor along with Baby Bobby. What a castle of wonder and love it was! I adored Ray. He was a true New Yorker and quintessential Brooklynite to the core, with his colloquial Brooklynese accent; his wonderfully strong, dynamic and assured personality coupled with a large and tender heart; his love of both Broadway and opera, especially of Pavarotti and other operatic greats; the adoration of his beloved wife Judy, three children Michael, Christopher, Allison, their families, his Mother and Father, and all of his extended family; his knowledge and love of his heritage, including the Ganim, Farrah and Zrake histories and legacies; his enduring friendships with his old childhood and schoolboy friends; his life-long residency in the same old ethic neighborhood; his irascibly charming nature. I will never forget how he diligently worked with me to register, honor and permanently place the names of our common ancestors, including his paternal Grandmother Teresa, onto the walls of the newly created national memorial on Ellis Island through which they entered into this great country of ours, which Ray served at Floyd-Bennett Field that Ray would point out on our summer drives to Reese Park. Most memorable was my getting to play golf on several occasions with Ray, Henry Wardi and his Brooklyn friends at the Westchester Country Club and other courses, none more memorable than being stuck on the Verranzano-Narrows Bridge in the late afternoon after a golf outing on Statin Island trying to get back to his house with Nellie impatiently waiting at the front door tapping her foot so that we would all timely get to Rutger's University to attend his nephew Donny's medical school graduation. Ray and Henry's salty words, nay paragraphs, for the traffic, the gridlock, the local politicians, and the ever increasing toll amounts required to be paid, caused me to laugh convulsively in the back seat. It was always a riot to be on a golf course with those two old buddies. I will miss Ray greatly, especially when we were catching up in the car on the way to the 81st Street home after he would graciously pick me up from LaGuardia when I flew in from Tampa. He was a unique and honorable gentleman, one of a kind, who I will miss mightily: his laugh, his big beaming smile, the sound of his voice. He was truly "A Man's Man!" My Mother Vivian sobbed when we heard of his passing on Saturday night. Her words of remembrance of her first cousins Ray and his brother Donald, who died two months earlier to the day, were so sad and tender: "They were like my baby brothers." The unexpected, shattering news and her other heartfelt childhood recollections spent with her two young Ganim Boy cousins, including trips to the Catskills, brought a torrent of tears to my eyes. God Rest His Beautiful Soul. I admired and loved you dearly Cousin Raymond!!

Memorial Candle lit by Loretta and tony

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 17:01:49 EDT

Loretta and tony

Condolence From joyce, adrian and vivian

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 09:20:01 EDT

We are truly saddened to hear of the loss of our dear cousin Raymond....he was truly unique in the most special of ways....warm, funny, handsome, kind, generous....a wonderful and loving man...great son, husband, father, cousin, friend...Vivian (our mom) adored him as her other little brother...and he was like a big brother to me...he was there for us when our own father suddenly and tragically passed away when we were in our teens....he brought joy and happiness back into our lives....mom always had wonderful recollections of their childhood and teen years together...living on 47th street....and we had great memories of the house on Ridge....Raymond in his cool cars...he was my first crush....he knew I was crazy about him...he took me to Coney Island...gave me a paper parasol...and a cracker jack box engagement ring....I was elated...he made me the happiest little girl imaginable!! Raymond always shared warm recollections of my dad too...and since we lost our father so young...it helped to keep his memory alive...Raymomd will be dearly missed by all who knew him...he never failed to call mom on special occasions...theirs was a special bond...and we now share that wonderful legacy with Ray and Judy's children too!! We will truly miss your uplifting spirit...your frankness...you were the best of the best!! May God rest your loving soul...and give peace and strength to your family to carry on!! We loved you Ray!!

Photo shared: Raymond Ganim.PNG

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 01:49:59 EDT

Book of Memories for Raymond M. Ganim

Condolence From Bobby Nader of Tampa, FL

Memorial Candle lit by Loretta and tony

Condolence From joyce, adrian and vivian

Photo shared: Raymond Ganim.PNG