JAMES DONALD (BONES) RALEIGH

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JAMES DONALD (BONES) RALEIGH Peacefully, after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at Kingston General Hospital, Don Raleigh, aged 86. He leaves behind his son Jack (Joan) and grandchildren James, William and Julia of Kingston; son-in-law Mark Wonneck and grandsons Luke and Aidan of Calgary. He is also survived by his brother Jack (Dianne) of Portland, Oregon, and three children Jeannine, Jeannette and Jim and their families; brother-in-law Jim (Sandra) Pitblado of Toronto and their four children Wendy, Diane, Jamie and John and their families. He was predeceased by his parents Fred and Lucille Raleigh, wife Janice Raleigh, daughter Sue Wonneck and nephew David Pitblado. Although born in Kenora, Ontario he spent the majority of his life in Winnipeg and at his beloved cottage in Sandy Hook, Manitoba. For health reasons he moved to Kingston in 2010, most recently to Arbour Heights Long Term Care, where he was treated royally. Don, or Bones' as he was known to his friends and the sporting fraternity was a well known sports personality. He participated in sports all his life, having played hockey, baseball, golf, badminton, tennis and curling. He excelled in hockey, with a 10 year career with the New York Rangers from 1947-1956 including being team captain for two seasons. He also had a short stint with the Rangers in 1943 as a 17 year old. He played in two NHL All-Star games and established several Ranger records including two consecutive overtime winning goals in the 1950 Stanley Cup Finals. Upon leaving hockey, Don entered the insurance field, eventually owning his own agency. Bones served on a number of Boards including the Manitoba Hockey Foundation, the Misericordia Hospital Foundation, the Lions Club of Winnipeg, the Lions Housing Foundation, the Winnipeg Winter Club and Rainbow Stage. He established bursaries at the University of Brandon, which he attended while playing junior hockey. He also established the Raleigh Family Mozart Scholarships at the Manitoba Arts Festivals to express his love of Mozart's music. He was a long time chairman of the Lindsay Street Garden Club and also the chairman of the #6 (Jim Whitecross) Air Cadet squadron Sponsoring Committee, on behalf of the Lions Club of Winnipeg. Don was a proud and honoured member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, and the University of Brandon Hockey Hall of Fame. He was a co-wearer of New York Ranger sweater #7 which has been retired at Madison Square Garden. He enjoyed many hobbies including stamp collecting, war history, gardening, astronomy, poetry and classical music. His charm and sense of humour endeared him to all who knew him. Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Don's Life will take place in Winnipeg on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the Bardal Funeral Home, 843 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg at 2:00 p.m. Donations in Don's memory may be made to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Arts Festivals re: the Raleigh Family Mozart Scholarships or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to the care of the GORDON F. TOMPKINS FUNERAL HOME Township Chapel, Kingston, Ontario. Online condolences may be left at www.gftompkinstownship.ca One of his favourite poems was Thanotopsis by William Cullen Bryant, which discusses life and death and closes with these sublime sentiments: So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. Funeral Home and Crematorium 843 Sherbrook Street, 204-774-7474 Condolences: www.bardal.ca Parking behind funeral home
Publish Date: Aug 25, 2012

JAMES DONALD (BONES) RALEIGH Peacefully, after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at Kingston General Hospital, Don Raleigh, aged 86. He leaves behind his son Jack (Joan) and grandchildren James, William and Julia of Kingston; son-in-law Mark Wonneck and grandsons Luke and Aidan of Calgary. He is also survived by his brother Jack (Dianne) of Portland, Oregon, and three children Jeannine, Jeannette and Jim and their families; brother-in-law Jim (Sandra) Pitblado of Toronto and their four children Wendy, Diane, Jamie and John and their families. He was predeceased by his parents Fred and Lucille Raleigh, wife Janice Raleigh, daughter Sue Wonneck and nephew David Pitblado. Although born in Kenora, Ontario he spent the majority of his life in Winnipeg and at his beloved cottage in Sandy Hook, Manitoba. For health reasons he moved to Kingston in 2010, most recently to Arbour Heights Long Term Care, where he was treated royally. Don, or Bones' as he was known to his friends and the sporting fraternity was a well known sports personality. He participated in sports all his life, having played hockey, baseball, golf, badminton, tennis and curling. He excelled in hockey, with a 10 year career with the New York Rangers from 1947-1956 including being team captain for two seasons. He also had a short stint with the Rangers in 1943 as a 17 year old. He played in two NHL All-Star games and established several Ranger records including two consecutive overtime winning goals in the 1950 Stanley Cup Finals. Upon leaving hockey, Don entered the insurance field, eventually owning his own agency. Bones served on a number of Boards including the Manitoba Hockey Foundation, the Misericordia Hospital Foundation, the Lions Club of Winnipeg, the Lions Housing Foundation, the Winnipeg Winter Club and Rainbow Stage. He established bursaries at the University of Brandon, which he attended while playing junior hockey. He also established the Raleigh Family Mozart Scholarships at the Manitoba Arts Festivals to express his love of Mozart's music. He was a long time chairman of the Lindsay Street Garden Club and also the chairman of the #6 (Jim Whitecross) Air Cadet squadron Sponsoring Committee, on behalf of the Lions Club of Winnipeg. Don was a proud and honoured member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, and the University of Brandon Hockey Hall of Fame. He was a co-wearer of New York Ranger sweater #7 which has been retired at Madison Square Garden. He enjoyed many hobbies including stamp collecting, war history, gardening, astronomy, poetry and classical music. His charm and sense of humour endeared him to all who knew him. Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Don's Life will take place in Winnipeg on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the Bardal Funeral Home, 843 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg at 2:00 p.m. Donations in Don's memory may be made to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Arts Festivals re: the Raleigh Family Mozart Scholarships or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to the care of the GORDON F. TOMPKINS FUNERAL HOME Township Chapel, Kingston, Ontario. Online condolences may be left at www.gftompkinstownship.ca One of his favourite poems was Thanotopsis by William Cullen Bryant, which discusses life and death and closes with these sublime sentiments: So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
Publish Date: Aug 24, 2012

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 25, 2012