QUE PASA
Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico
June 2012
My Memories Of Ray Marshall
By Tonia Trapp
On May 13 of this year, we lost a dear friend, Ray Marshall, who died at the age of 62. If Ray were sitting here next to me as I write, I know that he would want me to warmly greet all of you with an enthusiastic, “Good morning!” I always loved to hear him say that. It was his signature greeting, regardless of the time of day.
My earliest memory of Ray is from 1988. I was a blind swimmer at the Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Ray was also there. Ray excelled in sports, especially beep baseball and goal ball. I was only fourteen at the time, so these are distant memories for me, but I specifically recall Ray’s presence with the team because of his warm and humorous nature.
The next time I remember spending time with Ray was in 1997 when I came to Albuquerque for the summer to work as one of the dorm staff for the New Mexico Commission for the Blind STEP program. Ray took me out for a meal, and he took me to visit the Explora Museum where I remember seeing what one of the original switchboard systems looked like (the kind where the operators actually had to manually manipulate movable pieces into various holes to connect people to the party they were trying to reach).
Ray was a very kind and generous person. I had an unexpected opportunity to witness a very recent example of Ray’s generosity just this year, right before the NFB of New Mexico state convention began. On Thursday evening, April 12, a small group of our members went out for dinner with President and Mrs. Maurer at Sadie’s. My guess is that there were at least 15 of us there, possibly more, and Ray was among us. The company was wonderful, the food was superb, and we all had a fabulous time. Then it was about time for us all to receive and pay our bills, and much to our amazement and delight, Ray made a very quiet comment to one of us that he had already taken care of the bill for everyone. As it turns out, he had been very sneaky on this occasion and had taken aside one of the restaurant staff shortly after he arrived and instructed them to give the entire bill to him so he could take care of it. What an unexpected treat this was, and we all thanked Ray heartily and enthusiastically for his wonderful generosity in treating all of us to dinner (and keep in mind we're not talking about just three or four people, but at least 15 and possibly 20 or so).
Ray has been a very generous supporter of the NFB of New Mexico, and I know that we are all extremely grateful for his many contributions and all of the assistance he has provided this affiliate over the years. Here I will give just a few examples of how Ray showed his loyalty and support to the NFB of New Mexico: He served as first vice president of the affiliate, and he served as president of the Albuquerque chapter. He was responsible for arranging the bus each year that provided transportation to those of us who marched in the state fair parade. He also contributed regularly and generously to our scholarship fund. In addition, he participated enthusiastically in the annual auction to raise money for the scholarship to send a blind child and their parent to the NFB national convention, and he was a frequent buyer of auction items. In fact, I remember one year when his aunt Rosella, who makes beautiful porcelain dolls, donated a doll to the auction that I really wanted to win. Ray and I were bidding against each other. Eventually I stopped bidding, so Ray won the doll. He then immediately brought this gorgeous doll to me and gave it to me, saying that he wanted me to have it. Imagine my surprise! I was very touched and grateful for the gift.
In addition to his work in the NFB, Ray also served in numerous leadership positions within the blind community. He was a past President of the Committee of Blind Venders, the entity that represents the venders who are part of the Commission for the Blind Randolph Sheppard program. He was also a past member of the Commission’s State Rehabilitation Council.
Ray also had an impressive career. He worked for what is now Disabled Student Services at the University of New Mexico as a counselor for most of his career. In that capacity, he assisted many blind UNM students to realize their college dreams. After retiring from UNM, he ran a very successful vending facility at the main Albuquerque post office. Perhaps his crowning accomplishment was his service as manager of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center facility in Artesia. Ray did a fantastic job overseeing every aspect of the operations of that very large facility, which feeds over a thousand people every day. Ray was a very hard worker, and his success in his multiple careers reflects that.
But Ray didn’t spend all of his time working. He was very involved in the sport of beep baseball, in which he excelled. I found the following write-up on the website of the National Beep Baseball Association, which I found compelling:
[Beginning of excerpt.]
NBBA Legend passes -- May 15, 2012
Media Contact:
Kevin Barrett
NBBA Public Relations
Ray Marshall
Albuquerque, New Mexico, --- The National Beep Baseball Association is sadden to
announce The passing of Ray Marshall. Ray was a long time member of the NBBA, inductee
to the NBBA Hall of Fame and was known for his outstanding contributions defensively
to the sport of Beep baseball.
Dan Greene, President of the NBBA stated in a communication to members of the league,
"At Your next practice, and/or game, please take a moment to remember the passing
of Mr. Ray Marshall.
The NBBA loses members from our league on a regular basis, but Mr. Marshall was special.
In an era when the league was trying to define itself, he defined what it meant to
play Defense. He was, without a doubt, one of the best defensive players to ever
play our game.
It was my personal privilege to play alongside him once, back in the 1990's, and
I'm here to tell you, he was one of the best our game has ever produced.
Take a second, and reflect on the people who came before you, who defined our game,
and, against who, all your efforts will always be judged.
He was, defensively, the best you'll ever see."
[End of excerpt.]
In addition, Ray was also a superior goal ball player. My Internet search to find specific information about all of the goal ball medals that Ray won did not yield the information that I was seeking, but I did learn that Ray played on the U.S. goal ball team that won the world championships in 1982. Clearly, he excelled in a number of sports and was a superb athlete.
In conclusion, Ray contributed much of his time and energy to helping others and increasing athletic, educational, and employment opportunities for blind people. He will be greatly missed.
Ray’s obituary from the Albuquerque Journal follows:
Ray D. Marshall
Ray passed away on May 13, 2012. He was predeceased by his sister, Prudence Ann Bustamante
and granddaughter, Holly Marie Jarosick. Ray is survived by his father’s: Raymond
Bustamante and Neil Marshall; mother: Viola Marshall; sons: Andre Marshall and wife
Amanda, and Neil Marshall; daughter: Barbara Jarosick and husband Tim; sister: Mary
Lou Borth; granddaughters: Marianne Jarosick; grandsons: Timmy Jarosick and Anthony
Jarosick; godson: Kenneth Trujillo; aunt: Rosella Cordova; and special friend, Pam
Carrasco.
He graduated from the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and received
his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and retired from UNM as student
program advisor. Ray was a member and chairman of the Committee of Blind Vendors,
an inductee of the Beep Ball Hall of Fame, a dining hall contract manager of the
Federal Law Enforcement Center in Artesia, a member of the National Federation of
the Blind, a former president of the New Chapter of the Federation of the Blind,
and an assistant team leader, and member of the board for the United States
Association of Blind Athletics. Ray was a three-time gold medal winner in goal ball.
A Viewing and Visitation will be on Friday, May 18th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Reflection
of Life® Chapel (Washington and Cutler NE) with a Rosary following at 7:00 p.m. A
final Viewing and Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, May 19th at 9:00 and
10:00 a.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church followed by a Graveside Service at Mt.
Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers are Timmy Jarosick, Anthony Jarosick, Ken Trujillo,
Carlos Cordova, Tom Cordova, George Watson, Tim Jarosick and Luke Griego. Contributions
may be made to the Lions Club.