Blair Academy Mourns First Loss in Iraqi Conflict

[Ian David]

The Blair community was saddened to learn of the November 13 death of Maj. Ramon “Ray” J. Mendoza Jr. ’87, one of three Marines killed in action in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. An official statement form the U.S. Department of Defense indicated that Ray, 37, died while conducting combat operations against enemy forces during Operation Steel Curtain in New Ubaydi, Iraq. On October 1, Ray was promoted to the grade of major and was currently on his third tour of duty in Iraq. He leaves behind his wife Karen and two children, Kiana, 12, and Aleksandr (Alek), 8, of Columbus, Ohio.




A wrestler at Blair, Ray took second at Preps in 1987 and matriculated to Ohio State, where he also wrestled and was the 1991 USA University Freestyle champion. He lettered for the Buckeyes in 1992 and 1993 and was a ’93 Big Ten runner-up at heavyweight. At Blair Ray was also the captain of the varsity football team, and former Coach Hazen described him as an “outstanding leader.”

Jeff Buxton, head wrestling coach at Blair, described Ray in a November 17 Star- Ledger article as an “exceptional athlete, but more importantly as a great human being. He is one of the finest people I ever met and he surely will be missed. He was a very loyal person – a person who stuck up for just about any kid he came in contact with. Ray was one of those people you wanted to help out. I have that smile pictured in my head.”

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Ledger reporter Mike Frassinelli also spoke with Dave Low, assistant headmaster for student affairs, who said of Ray: “You knew he was bound to be a special person and a leader in a variety of ways. I can’t imagine there would be a better leader on the field in Iraq, or anywhere else.” Frassinelli also wrote of history teacher Marty Miller’s advisory report to Ray’s mother in which Ray was described as “a diligent student in the classroom; an outstanding athlete who literally set new standards for competitiveness at this school; a solid citizen of the dormitory and universally respected by his fellow classmates.”

More:
http://alumni.blair.edu/?Mendoza

[Kire]

1. and so soon after their football quarterback died from game injuries

that story was in the paper yesterday, it made me cry

[Ian David]

2. They also lost a teacher last month, too.

OBITUARIES - Wilmette Life <11-03-05> - 5:29pm
David Bruce Jamieson, 43, of Blairstown, NJ, formerly of Winnetka, died Oct. 22.
He was born March 16, 1962 in Lake Forest. ..
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A//www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/wi/11-03-05-obit.html&ei=ni59Q7biMKDc4QG1rIAI&sig2=Jd04RLDiDk_BGrOPGWI88g