Ray Ellis (Anderson) Hadley Sr. (1921 - 1966)

Born 22 Feb 1921 in Eugene, Oregon, United States

Ancestors

Died 19 Feb 1966 at age 44 in Seattle, Washington, United States

Biography

He was born in 1921 and was the son of John W. ANDERSON ^[1] and his wife Ila Jane RAY. His parents soon divorced and his mother remarried to Asa William HADLEY, who raised him and his younger brother as his own sons. They took their step-father's HADLEY surname, which they used for the rest of their lives.

He first married Bette and they had 2 children, Ila Ray HADLEY and Ray HADLEY, Jr.

His second marriage was in 1954 to Linda HART, who was a roller skater and ice skater. Ray Sr. taught ice dancing and Linda taught singles and pairs alongside him. They both taught Ray’s children who competed in all 3 disciplines.

In November 1960 he and his wife opened their own studio - the "Hadley and Hart Ice Studio".

His 2 children won the 1957 U.S. junior pairs title and Linda accompanied them to Paris, France where they performed exhibitions at the 1958 World Championships. The sibling pair also competed at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games and at the 1961 Nationals where they placed second, winning silver medals.

Due to lack of money, it was at first uncertain if they would make it to compete in the 1961 World Championships in Prague. But Linda and his 2 children did make the flight, while he stayed behind to teach and run the studio. He planned to meet then in Prague later in the week. ^[2] The US figure skating team, coaches, athletes and families died on 15 Feb 1961 in the crash of Sabena Flight 548 in Brussels, Belgium, including his wife Linda and his 2 children, Ila & Ray HADLEY, Jr.

He died on 19 Feb 1966 at age 44 in Seattle, King County, Washington state and was buried at Rest-Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ 1921/Feb/23 Eugene Register-Guard newspaper with birth announcement (copy attached here) for his birth on 22 Feb 1921 which named his father with a typo for middle initial, should be John W. ANDERSON.
2. ↑ 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Team
3. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=70212819