Ray, a courageous fighter against stage 4 liver cancer, passed away this week. His journey was far from easy.

Ray was beloved — Dad, “Pepe,” husband, brother, brother-in-arms. He kinda did it all, and everyone kinda liked that about him. Those who saw his battles will remember his strength, resilience, and the way he met each challenge with quiet determination… and a touch of Trombley-style stubbornness.

During his illness, your generosity covered his medical and care expenses, giving him comfort, dignity, and more time with those he loved. Every dollar went directly to those needs, and we are deeply grateful.

Now, his family is focused on giving him a farewell that reflects his essence — simple, personal, and meaningful.

What’s planned

An informal gathering will be held locally to celebrate Ray’s life with friends, family, and fellow veterans. In keeping with Ray’s wishes, there will be no funeral homes. While he had hoped for a full-body burial at sea, we will instead scatter his ashes along the Maine coast — his next best choice.

Ray’s ashes will be placed in small wooden toy boats and set afloat in meaningful spots from Kittery to Bar Harbor, visiting places he lived, worked, and loved. This will be our way of giving him his burial at sea.

Estimated costs

• Cremation and related expenses: ~$2,000

• Memorial gathering and travel north to honor his life: $2,000–$3,000

If more is gathered than needed, the surplus will remain in the irrevocable trust attached to this campaign.

How you can help

We’re not asking for a second round of contributions from those who’ve already supported this effort. The most helpful thing now is to share the new memorial campaign with friends, family, or anyone who knew Ray and might want to be part of honoring his life. We’re also accepting small wooden boats — sailboats, rowboats, lobster boats — that float, are made of wood, and can carry a message to Ray as we launch them.

Thank you for standing with Ray’s family through every chapter of this journey.