Who Was Ray Wertz?
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Ray was an incredible man who dedicated his life to helping others, starting with Boy Scouting as a youngster and never letting up until his death in 1998 at the age of 77. Many, many areas of Newport were touched through the years by Ray’s helping hands, but he seemed to have a few extra-special interests. One of them was the Newport Public Library. Ray spent countless hours volunteering at the library beginning in 1988, when its new building was erected. Almost daily he rode his bicycle there, propped it in the bicycle rack he had installed, and went inside to ask what chores or errands needed to be done. After taking care of what needed doing that day, off he’d go on his bike. Marjorie McKensie, then Library Director, says, “After Ray was no longer around, it took 3 new volunteers to take his place, and even now we still miss him.” |