Ray Acheson Remembrances – His Indomitable Spirit
Never heard Ray ever complain - about anything...that will be for me forever. -- Oscar Lazaro
Oscar Lazaro – Never heard Ray ever complain – about anything…that will be for me forever.
Walter Haywood – One of his favorite sayings was it builds character if the effort is hard. Riding in rain that was so hard you could not see and him refusing to stop until the rain let up.
John Whisnant, Tom Day – The infusion pump. On one cold ride when Ray first had his infusion pump pic line in, Walter called us all: “Ray’s going out, everybody shows up, no wimping out” and we all rode in 40 degree rain not saying anything about how long or when we’d get back until hours later, we ended back in Wellesley with Ray saying “Wasn’t that great.” Of course he hadn’t felt that well for years given the osteomyelitis he had for years in his face which the surgery removed and the antibiotics were controlling. I’m sure he didn’t notice. And I’m sure the infusion pump was not designed for bike riding.
Tom Day, Damon Bates – Stories of “The Ray roll” and Watchusett Climb. One tale recounts Ray collapsing in the fetal position at the top of Wachusett foaming at the mouth, though he recovered for the ride home.
John Whisnant – Ray’s practical advice: “Start late. Turn back early” for those hesitating on cold winter rides.
John Whisnant – Ray stopped midway up Leviathan climb on a B2B ride, then rode back down to gain speed, executed a U-turn, and successfully completed the climb.
John Whisnant, Damon Bates, Walter Haywood – The tandem bicycle with Walter at the PMC, accompanied by Ray’s blaring mini harmonica sounds that signaled riders to accelerate.
Tom Day – An America by Bike cross-country cycling trip from Newport, California to Massachusetts in 2004. Ray faced hypothermia in cold, rainy conditions and resisted SAG wagon assistance until the driver promised not to “SAG” him, only provide warmth.
Oscar Lazaro – Ray fell off his bike on a 98-degree day, waking in an ambulance with only Walter’s Peet’s card as identification. The EMS responder noted the cracked helmet indicated significant impact.
Oscar Lazaro – Ray’s false teeth fell out while rolling over railroad tracks, and someone ran over them, getting a flat tire.
Oscar Lazaro – During a physical, a nurse called a “code red” because Ray’s heart rate was 35, attributed to his exceptional fitness level.
Chip Norton – Descriptions of epic training battles between Ray and Warren Hellman, a former national collegiate swim champion with a disfigured arm from childhood polio. They constantly competed for front position despite different backgrounds.
Tom Snow – “50 at 50”: Ray ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday in 7:26, refusing to stop until his wife Jean insisted.
Tom Snow – Ray rode a spin bike without a saddle at the YMCA for an hour-long workout because the saddles were missing, and he actually enjoyed it. The YMCA later named the room after him.
Walter Haywood – One of his favorite sayings was it builds character if the effort is hard. Riding in rain that was so hard you could not see and him refusing to stop until the rain let up.
John Whisnant, Tom Day – The infusion pump. On one cold ride when Ray first had his infusion pump pic line in, Walter called us all: “Ray’s going out, everybody shows up, no wimping out” and we all rode in 40 degree rain not saying anything about how long or when we’d get back until hours later, we ended back in Wellesley with Ray saying “Wasn’t that great.” Of course he hadn’t felt that well for years given the osteomyelitis he had for years in his face which the surgery removed and the antibiotics were controlling. I’m sure he didn’t notice. And I’m sure the infusion pump was not designed for bike riding.
Tom Day, Damon Bates – Stories of “The Ray roll” and Watchusett Climb. One tale recounts Ray collapsing in the fetal position at the top of Wachusett foaming at the mouth, though he recovered for the ride home.
John Whisnant – Ray’s practical advice: “Start late. Turn back early” for those hesitating on cold winter rides.
John Whisnant – Ray stopped midway up Leviathan climb on a B2B ride, then rode back down to gain speed, executed a U-turn, and successfully completed the climb.
John Whisnant, Damon Bates, Walter Haywood – The tandem bicycle with Walter at the PMC, accompanied by Ray’s blaring mini harmonica sounds that signaled riders to accelerate.
Tom Day – An America by Bike cross-country cycling trip from Newport, California to Massachusetts in 2004. Ray faced hypothermia in cold, rainy conditions and resisted SAG wagon assistance until the driver promised not to “SAG” him, only provide warmth.
Oscar Lazaro – Ray fell off his bike on a 98-degree day, waking in an ambulance with only Walter’s Peet’s card as identification. The EMS responder noted the cracked helmet indicated significant impact.
Oscar Lazaro – Ray’s false teeth fell out while rolling over railroad tracks, and someone ran over them, getting a flat tire.
Oscar Lazaro – During a physical, a nurse called a “code red” because Ray’s heart rate was 35, attributed to his exceptional fitness level.
Chip Norton – Descriptions of epic training battles between Ray and Warren Hellman, a former national collegiate swim champion with a disfigured arm from childhood polio. They constantly competed for front position despite different backgrounds.
Tom Snow – “50 at 50”: Ray ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday in 7:26, refusing to stop until his wife Jean insisted.
Tom Snow – Ray rode a spin bike without a saddle at the YMCA for an hour-long workout because the saddles were missing, and he actually enjoyed it. The YMCA later named the room after him.