Our dear friend, Jay Ward, passed away on January 6, 2018. Please join us in honoring his memory by contributing to a memorial bench in Riverside Park, where he spent many a happy day. Bench sponsorship costs $7,000 which provides the bench with an engraved plaque. (Your donation is tax deductible, and a receipt will be provided). Please also help us get the word out by forwarding this to anyone who loved Jay as we did.
Having the opportunity to know Jay was a real gift. He was a unique, integral part of many human and canine lives on the Upper West Side and beyond. His living on 85th Street at the edge of Riverside Park for over 40 years made the Drive, the Promenade and the 87th Street Dog Run likely spots to encounter Jay with his beloved Rocky and more recently with his lovely Miss Beans -- as well as potentially other four-legged members of his “Pack” – Rocco, Lucy, Scarlett, Clyde, Zelda, Toby, Dash, Simone, Heidi – just to name a few of the many dogs lucky enough to be in his vigilant care.
Jay’s genuine kindness knew no bounds and his quirky humor provided more than a few hearty laughs. He was multi-talented, multi-faceted and connected with people in different ways. He was a dog walker extraordinaire with a Phd in Dog Speak. He was a talented photographer with magazine worthy action photos of his pack members lining his apartment walls and filling his photo albums. He was a musician with his “Dogbrain” label--arranging music, playing the guitar and singing vocals as well—with many of us fortunate to have his CDs. He was a woodworker and carpenter in his spare time. During the summer months, he regaled us with progress updates on rehabbing his “almost seaworthy” boat in Cape Cod.
Jay made the Upper West Side a better place and brightened many of our days with his presence. He was loved. He is missed. But his positive impact on our lives is forever. Please help us honor Jay by donating to sponsor a Riverside Park Bench in his honor.
Thank you for loving Jay.
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