Happy Birthday, Ray

(Jeanne and Bebe 1952)

Once upon a time a woman named Jeanne Lightbound went to Western High School for one year and became good friends with a Greek guy named George Cokinos. Jeanne went back to Bethesda Chevy Chase High school, but she never forgot George. And if she hadn't kept up that friendship with George, we never would have met all her BCC pals like Charles Bernard, whom she married and Ray Stone who is celebrating his 90th birthday today.


(Irene, Bebe and Ray 1945)

The gang, Ray and Irene Stone, Roy and Marge Cross and Charles Bernard met George and Bebe just before World War Two, but then the guys had to go off to fight. (except for George who had thought ahead and already had two children) After the war everybody started having children; thus the Bridge Party was born which went on for thirty years or so. They even were in business together before Ray started Bethesda TV. The friends went to the beach together and traveled together, and The Cokinos and Stone families almost lived together- well, near each other anyway.



(Peter, Roger and Ray 1950)

Sometime in the fifties, Ray found a house in Potomac and asked George to come look at it. He showed him the house he almost bought, too, and guess who bought that house and still lives there on Riverwood Drive?


(Trip to Bermuda 1970)

In the late sixties, after countless beach trips and travel, George suggested that they build cottages together in South Bethany where a hurricane had wiped out the ocean front and lots were cheap. The two houses ended up being so close together that we had an intercom and could wave each other over for meals.

One time George called Ray in desperation, telling him a fire had broken out. Ray rushed over only to find George standing over a griddle full of pancakes. (Only problem was they forgot to tell Irene, who was waiting next door, that it was only a joke.)

Bebe recalls the time they went out on Ray's boat and their friend, Nadine spilled a cocktail down her front. She went below and took her bra off, and they hung it on the rigging to dry.
When they went to dock for dinner, they made quite the entrance with Ray coming in a bit fast and the red bra flying.


Ray, you've always been a great friend- always there to help fix something around the house or take us fishing or out on your boat. We all hope you have a happy birthday, Ray. You still have your good looks, not to mention that winning personality.