I knew Dr. Ragusa for over thirty years, as his youngest son, John, is married to my sister. I have so many memories of him, his love of football (the Jets) and how he enjoyed playing cards, going out to lunch with his family and reading (I even borrowed books from him a couple times). I remember the "train room" in his old house in Stratford, and how he paid me and a friend of mine to stay at the house on the day of his daughter Patty's wedding, to "keep it safe". Who could forget his less than steller jokes (the nine inch pianist will always have a special place in my heart). I will always remember talking to him at family parties. He would always ask me how I was doing and what I was up to, and he really wanted to know and took an interest.

I guess the "story" that I will share took place at one of these parties. It was a summer party at my sister's house (I don't remember the occasion, most likely to celebrate the summer birthdays) and we were all outside by the pool. The weather took a turn for the worse, the wind really picked up and it started to rain real hard. Everyone is scrambling to get inside and trying to grab whatever they can to bring inside and get it out of the rain and wind (food, phones, whatever was out there that needed to come in). The more able bodied folks were making repeat trips to make sure everything was brought in. During the height of the storm, what do I grab? Dr. Ragusa's bottle of Tanqueray. I come into the house, dripping wet and wind blown, and show him that I grabbed the bottle for him. He says something to the effect of  "Kim, I always knew you were a good kid, that's why we keep you around. Now can you pour me some, I think I left my drink outside." That was just one of the many times he made me laugh.

He was a truley remarkable man and he will be missed by a great many people.