Rest in Peace to my Grandpa, Ray Dawley, 1927-2021

My grandpa passed away today around 3:15 am. From what I understand he passed peacefully in his sleep. I wasn't there, but Diya and I managed to go up there almost a month prior, and it's great to have been able to see him one last time and say goodbye.

It still feels a little surreal that he has gone. I wasn't talking to him too regularly at the end, in part because he sometimes had a hard time remembering me, but I always felt close to him and loved knowing he was my closest relative.

He had a phenomenal life, and raised an incredible group of children (now all adults) and subsequent grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.

Some of my favorite memories come from seeing the Giants play in San Francisco together. We'd take the train and people watch, or make small talk, and eat overpriced food at the stadium. He has a brick there somewhere that I'll have to visit next time I go.

He also taught me to sail on his little boat in the San Francisco harbor. We would screw around together on the tiny vessel, with loose sails as often as full ones, and chat about life. I always loved his narration as he updated the sailing log after every outing. Through the private sailing classes he bought for me and Dominique, his wife Genny's grandson, I got to learn a lot about this new mixed family that had emerged, and found a great friend (and family member) along the way.

Rest in peace, Grandpa. You will be dearly, dearly missed.