Ray Camarco
December 21st, 2015 ~ Age 62
R
ay was a man dedicated to his local community and to the State of Connecticut whose
career as a Newington police officer began in 1974. Previously, he served as both a volunteer
in the ambulance corps and the fire department. He retired from the police department as
a Sergeant in 1997 and went to work for the State of Connecticut Department of Special Revenue
until 2009, when he retired as a lieutenant.
Ray was an avid and talented golfer playing out of Indian Hill Country Club and a regular
volunteer with the CSGA. At the time of his death, Ray was a member of the CSGA Board of
Directors as Regional Representative At-Large for the River Valley Region.
“It was so much fun to play golf with Ray,” said friend Dave Foster, “he described every
good drive as being ‘right down Main Street’ and he knew the Indian Hill greens like the back of
his hand.” Another fellow golfer, Bill Torza recalls, “When I read his obituary I actually started to
cry. Ray was a friend you would love to have forever.”
Al Acker
A
January 18th, 2016 ~ Age 89
l was owner and operator of Acker's Radio & Television Inc. in Wethersfield for 43 years,
and a longtime member of Wethersfield Country Club. A volunteer and Rules Official
with the CSGA for many years, Al was known to golfers throughout Connecticut for his
dedication and commitment to the CSGA One Day series, a schedule of tournaments for which
he served as Director for the last 16 years of his life. He was a stabilizing constant that players and
officials relied upon for years.
Al’s good humor and attention to detail endeared him to all. He was a beloved member of the
CSGA team who in 2007 received the CSGA's Distinguished Service Award. Following his death,
the CSGA renamed the series championship, the “Al Acker One Day Championship.”
“Al was just a wonderful man who you could always count on to say and do the right thing,”
recalls CSGA Executive Director, Mike Moraghan. “His presence at tournaments and in meetings
made us better as an organization, and he was someone we all relied upon for insight and guidance.”
Sandy Young
January 28th, 2016 ~ Age 93
S
andy joined the Executive Committee of the Connecticut State Golf Association in 1980 and became
president in 1997. He was instrumental in restructuring the organization and in the creation of its
Foundation, thereby spearheading the First Tee initiative. For his service to golf throughout the state,
Sandy was voted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
CSGA Past President, Peter Bulkeley recalls, “Sandy shared the vision that the CSGA had to make
some very fundamental changes as it entered it's second century, and his leadership enabled the CSGA to
become the great organization that it is today.”
Sandy was active in the United States Golf Association, serving as a Rules official for many USGA,
CSGA and New England Golf Association tournaments. He was a long-time member and former director of
Wee Burn Country Club in Darien and was an active member of the United States Seniors' Golf Association.
Jock McLean
J
January 29th, 2016 ~ Age 88
ock served as President of the Connecticut State Golf Association in 1985-86 and was dedicated to the
CSGA for many years as a volunteer and as a committee member. Born in Danbury, he enlisted in the Navy
at the age of 18 in 1945 near the end of World War II. He graduated from Deerfield Academy and Babson
College, and soon after college he ran the John McLean department store in Danbury for over twenty years. Later
he was an accomplished sales rep with FootJoy for more than twenty years. Jock began playing golf when he was
seven years old and remained a passionate golfer his entire life.
Ridgewood Country Club head professional, Bob Geambazi said of Jock, “I remember Jock as my FootJoy
salesman, as a member of Ridgewood Country Club, and as my friend. I loved our visits together. Jock was a
perfect gentleman, loved by all who knew him.”
94 / CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION / 2016 ANNUAL