RAY DAMATO 1960 - 1985 PILOT MKC MCI DEN Now I may not be spelling the names right... but here are a few more that have passed away over the years: Station Agents Dale Simone Danny Thomas Chester Turgeon (suicide) Pilots Ray DiMato I'll let you know if I think of more..... -Bob Stine (6/1/99) I was leafing through the Obituary page today and although I can't supply any specific date info, on many of the pilot's listed there is no info at all. My memory is far from perfect but I thought I'd pass along what I remember about some of these guys. Ray Damato: Ray was doing a little amateur rodeo riding and got what he thought was a back injury which took him out of flying until it got better. It didn't get better and after toughing it out for too long, he finally went to get it checked out and it was cancer which didn't take too long to do it's dirty deed. -H.A. "Frosty" Frost (11/26/99) Frosty, Do you recall anything else about Ray Damato's death such as what year and his age, where he was from (would help with SSDI search), etc.? Thanks, -Jake Lamkins (4/23/03) I got this inquiry from Jake Lamkins who is trying to update obits but I can't seem to remember anything specific. It seems like he might have been form the Omaha area originally but I'm not sure. Hope you might be able to help him. -Frosty Frost (4/23/03) JAKE; FROSTY ASKED ME TO RESPOND TO YOUR REQUEST. RAY LIVED HERE IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA FOR YEARS, LOVED HORSES AND BOARDED TWO AT MY PLACE AT ONE TIME. HE WAS FROM OMAHA AND WHEN HE BECAME ILL IN THE EARLY 80'S HE USED TO VISIT HIS FAMILY THERE. HE HAD AN EX WIFE AND I BELIEVE SOME CHILDREN. HE PASSED AWAY IN ABOUT 1984 OR 85 I THINK. CANCER. BURIED IN OMAHA. -HENRY RANKIN (4/24/03) Thanks, Henry. I still can't pin down his listing in the SSDI. Was Ray his legal name or was it Raymond or ? About how old was he when he died? -Jake Lamkins (4/24/03) Raymond, I believe. He should have been less than 60. I know his attorney and I will ask him. -Henry Rankin (4/24/03) You might pass on what little I know. He passed away in spring of 1989 in Omaha area where his children lived. He was divorced. Don't think there were any other spouses. That's about it. -Frosty Frost (4/25/03) E-mail to Frosty & Henry: Frosty, The only Damato in the SSDI for 1989 is R DAMATO Born 18 Sep 1942 Died 15 Jan 1989 Age 46 SSN issued in New York Do you think this is the right one? Was Raymond his first name? Sometimes folks go by their middle name. There was no Ray or Raymond listed in 1989. -Jake Lamkins (4/26/03) That isn't him. He was born in 1932. Altmark said he died in the spring of 1989 at Omaha NE which sounds about right. Unfortunately, those replies to my original forward of your request all get deleted automatically after a time. Most of them copied you in too. But I know he was born in 1932 and it seems like it was in September 1932. -Frosty Frost (4/26/03) Carried as R.J. Damato on the ESOP Lost List -Jake Lamkins (4/26/03) I have talked to the attorney that represented Ray's estate and he will get back to me about age etc within the week. -Henry Rankin (4/28/03) Thanks, Henry. Be sure to tell the lawyer that Ray's heirs have money in the FL ESOP. He's on Wells Fargo's "lost list" as RJ Damato. -Jake Lamkins (4/28/03) Jake: I spoke with Ray's attorney yesterday. He has trashed the files as he recalls Ray deeding everything to his family prior to death. His ex-wife and two children were living in Omaha. He thinks his legal name was Ramon, but you may have found him as he couldn't have been more than late forties when passing. There doesn't seem to be an estate. Clay County Missouri.org.may have more. -Henry Rankin (5/2/03) Looking over your obits I remember that Captain Ray Damatto of Kansas City died in Omaha NE a few years after the shutdown. He started with Frontier Airlines in Denver. He died of prostate cancer. -Barb Womack, KC Flight Attendant (11/14/03) Barb Carroll shared the most hilarious story of flying with Phil Stallings and Ray Damato. They rigged the cockpit door with string and set a cup of water on top so that, when she walked into the cockpit, the water would fall on her head!!!!!!! They did some of the craziest stuff to us!!! We just laughed and laughed on the phone for the longest time. -Jo Delle Burwell, KC flight attendant (1/23/04) Barb must be thinking of another crew....... Ray and I would never have done that to her . Not us........... -Phil Stallings (1/23/04) Was reading about Ray Damato and was suprised that not much information was available about him. I flew with him a lot and have to say he was a consumate gentleman at all times. Never knew a nicer guy. His birth date was 7/22/32. He spent a great deal of his childhood with Capt. Don Powell who can no doubt give much insight on the subject. He was very close to Capt. Milt Altmark who stayed with him daily as he drew near death. -Ron Gallop (4/19/06) R J Damato has a seniority date of 4/1/60 on the 9/1/81 FL/ALPA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (4/20/06) FAL DAMATO, RAY J 0211797 DOB 07/22/32 DOH 01/01/60 RT 09/30/85 per the FL ALPA Roster. R J DAMATO Pilot seniority date of 4/1/60 per the 9/1/85 FL/ALPA seniority list. He is not on the 1986 list so I will presume the ALPA Roster retirement date of 9/30/85 is correct. Still unable to find or pin down anything in the SSDI, FindAGrave.com or web search. -Jake Lamkins (3/16/13) Photo of Ray in 1963 reprinted with permission from the book FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE GALLEY by Bonnie C. Dahl and Patty A. McNeill. -Jake Lamkins (3/17/13) Posted at FLacebook and the FL Club: DEN pilot Ray Damato's memorial webpage has been updated. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Ray_Damato.html Finally got a photo thanks to Bonnie. -Jake Lamkins (3/17/13)