R.I.P. Ray Gandia - Army Ranger - Abay Bouncer - Ft. Drum Trainer - Biker.. Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 8:19:59 PM     Alexandria Bay, NY 1000 Islands  Comments  Unique Views 9904/Total Views 11853

  

UPDATE: Offical obituary is up.. follow link below..
http://www.newzjunky.com/obits/0215gandiaobit.htm 

I received word today that Ray Gandia has passed away from complications related to a brain aneurysm. I'm told Ray left us around 3:00 pm today.

He will be missed, that's for sure.

Ray was an Army Ranger, head bouncer at Bootleggers for many years, a trainer at Fort Drum, a biker, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and an all around great guy. I had the pleasure of working for him at Bootleggers as one of his bouncers and it was a great experience.

Ray was also a big fan of abaynews.com.. one of the last times I saw Big Ray was at Fort Drum when I was doing a story called "A Day With The Soldiers". Ray took the training of the soldiers very serious. He was proud to be doing it and wanted those guys to stay safe.

Watch the video below.. it's the only video I have a of Ray,.. SIGH..

Please leave your comments below and if you have any pictures of Ray please send them in to the site so I can put them up for everyone. abaynews@gmail.com

















More info from Ray's Facebook..

About Ray: "Career soldier, retired from active duty nov 97, currently a weapons instructor for the 10th mountain division in upstate NY.. Been riding motorcycles since 1964, currently ride a 2006 road king custom and am the road captain for the Carthadian motorcycle club... Love this country and all she stands for !!!"

Nickname: SMOKE
Originally From: Kenosha, Wisconsin
Born: Nov 30th, 1959
High School: Tremper High

Ray wrote this note on his Facebook page on JAN 10TH, 2011.
It is in regards to recent losses within his MC..

"2010 wasnt the best year for the CARTHADIANS motor cycle club... Apl 24th 2010 we lost Richie PIPES Maccue, Pipes died doing what he loved... Riding that big ole Harley with his Brothers... He left behind a Great Lady Angie and a couple of really good kids... He left all of his brothers who for most, will never get over his loss... Now the Carthadians have suffered another loss, Gary Ingram, or known to his Brothers as Razor... Sometime we think late sat night Razor's truck went through a guard rail into a cold upstate NY river... Not to be recovered until monday morning... Another Brother gone, But never to be forgotten... We will go on with out our Brothers. On the bikes always riding with 2 empty spaces in our formations... We know they will be there to greet us when we are done riding on this earth... And they know we will still be here doing what we do, Cranking those hogs up and getting all we can get out of that american iron, They also know we will be here for there families, anything they need, anytime... pipes and razor we miss you, long to ride side by side with you again... And we love you both... Rest in Peace my Brothers...Always your Brother..... Smoke"

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