"The Rainman"

T

tom mcgonagle

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The game of pool and myself lost a good friend recently, Ray Disell, passed away. Ray and I had recently gotten back together and were getting ready to launch a second sight for the New England Pool and Billiard Hall Of Fame.

As recent as last week I went down to Providence with him to deliver more material to Steve Goulding.

This is a terrible loss to myself and the game of pool in New England. Ray, unselfishly, worked long and hard to help establish the first hall in New Bedford and was doing the same thing again for Providence.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ray and his family. We will miss you, "Rainman."

God Bless You.
 
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend Tom, remember all the good times and talk of him often, helps keep him Alive!


David Harcrow
 
Tom- OMG this is very sad. I am totally shocked.

For those of you that didn't know him, Ray Desell was from the old school. He used to love the history of the game. He used to write occasionally for "ALL ABOUT POOL". He researched the old timers and would find articles and photos from the twenties and thirties about Greenleaf; Hoppe and some of the local guys like St Jean. He was totally devoted to the old timers. I used to see him occasionally at the track and I would kid with him; "Hey Ray...how are the dead pool players doing?" He was a character. And a good guy. Slowly, bit by bit we are losing our heritage as these guys pass away. I had not seen Ray for about a year, but every time i went to Rockingham Park I would look for him. I think I will still. This is very sad news.

Rainman, you were exactly what the non pool playing people think of when they think of us pool players. I am happy that you were the man that you were. I am saddened and I will miss you.

Goodnight my friend.

Bob Campbell
 
Well said Bob.

To know the Rainman, was to love him. He cherished the past and the player's that made it great.

He was solely responsible for Boston Shorty's induction into the New England Sports Museum. He did all the leg work. All Shorty had to do, was show-up.

He did at least seventy-five percent of the work on the Hall of Fame, in New Bedford and was ready to take the bull by the horns in Providence. I was lucky, to know him.

Thanks to those, that expressed their thoughts.
 
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I am sorry for your loss and I would of loved to meet him. I also love the history of the game and have tried to study it. I believe that it is being lost little by little and I am sure Ray took allot of great facts and stories with him. :frown:
 
Ray, was never to busy to sit and talk about the old days. When the smoke clears, I may be in possession of some of his material. I'll let you know.

Thanks again to all that have expressed thier thoughts.

Were not here long, and we're gone forever.
 
"The Rainman," will be laid to rest today. Who will he challenge to a game of straight pool first, Mosconi or St. Jean? Definitely two of his all time favorites.

Thanks for all your help, Ray. The Hall will miss you terribly. Thanks for making a dream of mine, come to life.
 
I just noticed this. I am so sorry to hear that Ray has died. He was one of the key unofficial historians of Pool & Billiards in New England over the years, and generous with his collection of photos and stories. Not that old, either. Rest in peace, Ray.
 
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