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RAYMOND GANDOLF Obituary

GANDOLF--Raymond L.,

died peacefully at home on December 2, 2015, at the age of 85. He was the devoted husband of Blanche Cholet, loving father of five daughters, Alexandra (Matthew), Jessica (Lincoln), Victoria, Amanda (Martin) and Susanna (Robert), and cherished grandfather of Dillon and Caitlin, Elias and Dana, and Scarlett. Ray was born in Norwalk, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Science in Speech from Northwestern University. He was an actor, writer, television news correspondent and sports commentator. Ray contributed to the ABC series "Our World" as writer and co-host, was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and reported from four Olympic Games. He received an Emmy, a Peabody, and a duPont Award for his work. Ray's unforgettable charm, intelligence, wit and warmth will be greatly missed. Family will be welcoming callers on Tuesday, December 8th, 2-5 and 7-9pm at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home, 1076 Madison Ave. at 81st St. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 9th, 10am at The Church of St. Gregory the Great, 144 West 90th St., between Columbus and Amsterdam Aves. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Donations in his memory may be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

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Published by New York Times on Dec. 6, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for RAYMOND GANDOLF

Sponsored by His Loving Family.

25 Entries

Doris Yonker, Kansas City, Missouri

July 14, 2021

While getting ready for work I listened to the news with Hughes Rudd and the sports with Ray Gandolf. Ray Gandolf is the first and the only person I have ever heard report on sports and make it sound interesting. I have paid attention to sports and read sports pages all these years because of his reporting and his personality. I have long wanted to thank him. God bless you and hold you in the palm of His hand, dear family members.

John McCormick

November 25, 2017

Dear Gandolf Family: My message is short, and certainly late. I looked for Ray on the "Web" and was unaware of his death. Obviously, I feel a great sense of loss as he was the best there has ever been in his genre. My mother, born in 1913, died in 2005. In earlier years, although she was not a sports fan, would never miss the opportunity to listen to his broadcast, the show, or his commentary. He and newscaster Frank Blair were daily staples in my mother's long life. Thank You Ray, and Thank You Gandolf family for "loaning" Ray to so many of us. God's Speed.
John McCormick Salem SD

Diana Hoddinott Towb

December 11, 2015

My thoughts are with you, Blanche,and all the family, especially Susanna. What a happy circumstance that brought us all together 40 years ago and I am so pleased that Emily and I saw you and Ray earlier this year. We send you our love and happy memories - Diana, Emily, Dan and Josh

Roger Godin

December 8, 2015

My condolences to the Gandolf family. My memory of your husband/father goes back to just after the United States won its second hockey gold medal at Lake Placid. Ray anchored an SM piece on David Christian, a member of the team from Warroad, Minnesota who had just turned pro with the Winnipeg Jets. As the then director of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame at Eveleth, Minnesota I was delighted at this tribute to one of our own from what we now call the State of Hockey. So delighted that I expressed my gratitude in a written letter to Ray and to my unexpected delight he responded! He thanked me for my appreciation of his work. I've thought of him often in the intervening years having lost track of his career path. What a rare talent he was in all facets of journalism and as a warm, expressive human being. The world needs more Ray Gandolf's.

Richard O'Regan

December 7, 2015

Not a day goes by in which I don't put to practical use the lessons I learned from Ray. Often it is the lesson of clarity. Most days, I also need to be patient, calm, kind and appreciative. I remember, thanks to him, that our world is filled with characters who deserve respect and, sometimes, to be taken seriously. And that you never learn a damned thing until you stop talking and start listening.

MIchael Maltas

December 7, 2015

A lot of miles spent, stories told, elbows bent. Thank you Ray for the wit and wordsmithing you shared with us all, and the wisdom you shared with a young producer. Those were good days my friend. Cranking out another "3:10 to Yuma was a breeze when the script was always a jewel. Thank you Blanche and family for sharing him with us. We will miss him a lot.

Merrill (Merrie) Pearson-Bloor

December 7, 2015

To Alexandra, Jessica, Amanda, Victoria, Susanna and most importantly Blanche: I am so heartily sorry for your loss. Ray Gandolf was a true Renaissance man, and brilliantly witty. Some of my fondest memories of visits to my Keyes cousins in the Norman were trips up to the eighth floor and listening to the grown ups talk. As will you, we all will miss him and his spirit.

ed freedman

December 7, 2015

blanche...for several years now i have been telling myself i've got to call ray. i'll be kicking myself for the rest of my life for not having done so. you both knew how much you meant to me.

Michael Clemente

December 7, 2015

As another former colleague from ABC News, I am proud to say that his work will be missed by his fans, and his office-wide friendships will be missed by those who simply sat nearby to hear him talk...sports, politics, weather or anything else. A gifted man indeed!
Week after week, he took successful athletes and focused their stories in such a way that they all seemed nearly supernatural. Ray had that gift and now we pray that he is in loving hands too.

Richard McHugh

December 7, 2015

Ray was the best at reporting on sports and his sport essays. When little Wagner College nearly defeated Ralph Sampson and Virginia in College Basketball in NYC, Ray gave it national coverage and P.J. Carlesimo , the Wagner coach, became a known star.RIP ray!

Jo Davis

December 7, 2015

To The Gandolf Family,

I wish I had the right words to say, but I simply can't imagine what each of you is going through. Ray's powerful presence will be deeply missed.

Ed Cunningham

December 6, 2015

God bless and keep you Ray in His embrace. Blanche, Laurie and I send our love and prayers to you and your family. Love Ed Cunningham

Joshua Bain

December 6, 2015

I am an American history teacher in Indiana. The Our World Series is a perfect accompaniment to my course. The talent of Ray Gandolf has been appreciated by thousands of my students over the years. His work was brilliant! My condolences for your loss.

December 6, 2015

Blanche

Ray's wordsmanship was a perfect fit for the neophyte Sunday Morning. Kuralt and Threlkeld; Broun and Greenfield; and Gandolf. Television giants, all of them. Don Hewitt once admitted in a rare moment of candor that Sunday Morning was the best written show on television. High praise for all of those wordsmiths, including your Ray. My condolences to you and your family.

Bud Lamoreaux

Anne Doenias

December 6, 2015

Deepest sympathy and love to you all. May Ray be at peace.

Kathy Sulkes

December 6, 2015

Dear Blanche and Family - I was so saddened to hear this - I have the warmest memories of working with him in the early S.M. days - he made it fun - warm, witty, a wonderful writer and that laugh....So lucky to have known him...sending abrazos, Kathy

Terre Roche

December 6, 2015

Sending love to you Victoria and your family during this time of great loss. May your dad be peaceful and have happiness.

December 6, 2015

To the Gandolfs: Remembering the good times spent at 43 W 93rd in the Gandolfs dining room with Ray. Sincere condolences. Barbara Tomassi Simone

Kathryn Lennon

December 6, 2015

Sorry for your loss. RIP.

Alan Mordokowicz

December 6, 2015

Loved you husband and fathers reports as well as his voice. He made sports real for me.

December 6, 2015

Dear Blanche and Family,

Please accept my condolences on Ray's passing. His talent and success were only surpassed by his kindness and humanity.

Love does not die and he lives on through all of you.

Julian Kaufmann

dean hovell

December 6, 2015

I worked with Ray at ABC News on a number of stories. He was a wonderful, kind, intelligent man who softened the hard edge of news. I will always have very fond memories of him. Your family was blessed to have him and I know he will be missed.

Veronica Attina

December 6, 2015

You were a peaceful and articulate presence who will be missed.

Lucienne Lightfoot

December 6, 2015

Deepest Sympathies and love to all of you.

Catherine Ould

December 6, 2015

Dearest Blanche and girls, My sincere condolences go out to all of you regarding your husband and father's passing.Sending much love and hugs to each one of you!

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