Ramon “Ray” C. Calafell, Jr., 66, passed away on Friday April 1, 2016 after a brief illness. Ray was born in Havana Cuba on May 19, 1949. He was predeceased by his father Ramon and his mother Alicia. He is survived by his loving wife Pat (48 years), his daughter Patsy (Tim) Rey, his grandson (Matthew), his sister Olga Tumey, sisters-in-law Bonnie (Rick) Cain and Bobbie (Rob) Ammons as well as several nieces and their spouses and children. Ray and his family moved to the United States in the mid-1950’s and eventually settled in Tampa. Ray graduated Plant High School in 1967, received his B.A. from the University of South Florida in 1974 and his J.D. from the University of Miami in 1977. He was a Board Certified Trial Lawyer and practiced law in Tampa for 39 years. He began his law career practicing law as a plaintiff’s attorney. In 1979 he joined a nationally-respected litigation firm in 1979 and remained with them as their Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act specialist and jury trial counsel for nine years. Opening his own firm in 1988, he remained a specialist in Longshore Act cases. He authored several scholarly articles on the Longshore Act and lectured on the subject. Ray is a wounded combat veteran of the Vietnam War, having served as an infantryman with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (B Company, 4th Battalion - 31st Infantry Regiment). He is a Life Member of the Special Forces Association; Former Secretary of Command Chapter LX of the SFA (2001-2009); Member of the Special Operations Association, recipient of the SOA’s President’s award and Chairman of the Membership Committee (2009 until his death). He was also a member of the OSS Society and a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He received many military awards and decorations including the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation for service with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and Expert Marksmanship Badge (M-14 and M-16 rifles). Ray will be missed by his family and many friends around the world. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 7 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave. from 5 – 8 p.m. and funeral services on Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. at the same location. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Ray to one of the following: Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Center (Stayinstep.org), Special Operations Warrior Foundation (Specialops.org) or Southeastern Paws for Patriots (Guidedogs.org/about/our-programs/paws-for-patriots/).
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