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-   -   Dr. Ray McAllister Passes On (http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t=11525)

ricki 09-20-2012 10:41 PM

Dr. Ray McAllister Passes On
 
http://www.dinodiver.com/assets/images/ray.jpg

I am very sorry to learn of the passing of Dr. Mac. I have known and worked with him starting in excess of 35 years ago. The man is an Institution, often colorful, with strong opinions but a unique individual and respected by many. I met him during UW archaeology (Marine Advisory Board to the Historical Commission) and artificial reef (BARINC sinking of a barge and hull molds) projects in Ft. Lauderdale in the 1970's, studied under him in the Ocean Engineering program at FAU, interacted during the search for Columbus' Santa Maria off Haiti, coral reef projects, dive shows, and on and on. I recently met him giving historical background on the Hillsboro Lighthouse. His grandfather, Ramon Pinder, was the light's assistant keeper from 1909 to 1910. Dr. Mac is gone but will not be soon forgotten.

http://www.dinodiver.com/assets/images/winteam.jpg
Dr. Mac putting together the first human powered underwater sub races.


Here Dr. Mac narrates a video dealing with the second annual UW sub race with typical humor.


His Obituary and photos from his life:

"MCALLISTER, DR. RAYMOND F. (Dr. Mac), Age 89, of Lighthouse Point, Florida passed away quietly in his home on Monday, September 17, 2012. He was born in 1923 to Raymond and Jessie McAllister, with honorary father King Neptune. He is survived by his two sons, Keith and Kevin McAllister; his daughter, Karen Day; granddaughters, Lisa and Maureen McAllister, Cristin Day, and Kerry McAllister; grandsons, Matthew McAllister, Patrick Day, and Evan McAllister; great grandson Nicholas, and great granddaughter Isabella. He will be greatly missed.

Ray served his country with honor and courage in the United States Army during WWII early invasion of North Africa, the Italian campaign including the Anzio landings, and in Southern France. He received his doctorate in Marine Geology from Texas A&M in College Station, TX. Ray maintained a lifelong fascination with and love of the world's oceans. He learned to scuba dive in 1952. That began his career teaching about the oceans, studying and exploring them worldwide from Bermuda to Guam. One of his more unusual exploits was his attempt to ride a humpback whale one evening at sea, when he got his foot caught in the blowhole. The whale rolled away from the side of the ship and sounded (as whales are wont to do with a foot inserted). Clearly he extricated himself and lived to tell the story again and again and again. Ray helped start the world's first Ocean Engineering program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and taught oceanography there for 28 years, before retiring as a Professor Emeritus in 1993. He was a founder and mentor of the FAU Human Powered Submarine race team. During the years he lived in southeast Florida, Dr. Mac tirelessly advocated for the protection and preservation of Florida's coral reefs.

He served as an honorary member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, was an active member of the Under Sea Adventurers Dive Club, participated as an honorary member of the Old Time Music Jammers, and had served as a member of the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society. For more information about Dr. Ray McAllister, see his website at http://dinodiver.com/index.html."
Continued at: http://tinyurl.com/9t8f2nf


http://www.internationallegendsofdiv...cCallister.jpg
From the writeup on Dr. Mac in the International Legends of Diving
http://www.internationallegendsofdiv...lister_bio.htm


"Raymond McAllister, FAU ocean engineering pioneer, dies

By Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
7:38 p.m. EDT, September 20, 2012

Raymond F. McAllister, a pioneering educator who co-founded Florida Atlantic University's respected ocean engineering department, died Monday at his home in Lighthouse Point of natural causes. He was 89.

Dr. McAllister was working for the U.S. Navy developing a sonar system for long range detection of submarines when he joined FAU's faculty in 1964. He and U.S. Navy Capt. Charles R. Stephan started the ocean engineering program in 1965.
"
Continued at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/edu...0,708275.story


You can read some of his articles on Dr. Mac's website at:
http://www.dinodiver.com/html/ray_s_corner.htm


and his C.V. at:
http://www.dinodiver.com/html/cirriculum_vitae.html


http://www.bobwirt.com/BigJohn/WWIIVets.jpg
Posing with Big John McLaughlin and CDR Doug Fane
http://www.bobwirt.com/BigJohn.html


http://fksa.org/gallery3/var/resizes...g?m=1348234554 http://fksa.org/gallery3/var/resizes...g?m=1348234597
Dr. Mac narrating Hillsboro Lighthouse tours a few times per year. These shots are from 2009.


You can see something about his service during WWII at:
http://www.45thdivision.org/Veterans/McAllister.htm


An article written by Dr. Mac on the 50th Anniversary of Ocean Engineering at FAU
http://www.fau.edu/fiftieth/oe_history.php


An article about Dr. Mac and the Santa Maria Foundation's search for Columbus' ship lost centuries back in the Caribbean.
http://fksa.org/gallery3/var/resizes...g?m=1348340573
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...6256%2C2007870


This could go on for quite a while longer. Check back as more will likely be added.

So long Dr. Mac, thanks for all the great memories!

...

Services are to be held on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at:
Services will be held at St Paul The Apostle Parish, 2700 N. E. 36th St. Lighthouse Point, FL (954) 943-1954 at 9:30 AM with reception to follow at 11:00 AM at Elks Club 700 NE 10 st Lighthouse Point, FL 33060.


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ricki 10-01-2012 03:21 PM

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/def...641a91fcf0.jpg
http://www.examiner.com/article/reef...e-diving-world


Way to go Jeff Torode with South Florida Diving Headquarters, that was a nice tribute to Dr. Mac!


"Ancient Mariner reef gets addition of sculpture to honor local diving pioneer

By SUSAN C0ckING
sc0cking@MiamiHerald.com

One of Broward County’s popular scuba diving sites — the Ancient Mariner artificial reef — just got a little more interesting. The 70-foot deep shipwreck off Deerfield Beach now is decorated with a large, colorful steel sculpture of a coral reef.

Members of the South Florida diving community deployed the underwater ornament Wednesday in honor of Ray McAllister, retired Florida Atlantic University professor and diving pioneer from Lighthouse Point, who died two weeks ago at 89.

The “reef art” sculpture was created in 2000 by David Whitman Alger to decorate the entrance of Tails Island Grill, a waterfront restaurant in Pompano Beach. The restaurant closed several years ago and was set for demolition by the property’s new owner, Hunter Hospitalities LLC. Jeff Torode, operator of South Florida Diving Headquarters and a friend of McAllister, persuaded Hunter Hospitalities to donate the reef art to Broward County’s artificial reef program. With permission from Broward County officials, Torode and fellow divers lowered the sculpture to the deck of the Ancient Mariner and secured it with a chain. Then they held a short dedication ceremony.

Also, Miami-Dade County’s artificial and natural reefs got a boost last week with the donation of $10,000 toward maintenance of more than 40 mooring buoys at nine locations from Sunny Isles Beach south to Key Biscayne. The not-for-profit Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association, a group of divers and ocean conservationists, gave the money to the county’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources. Mooring buoys protect the sea bottom by allowing boaters to tie up to them, instead of dropping anchor on fragile coral or sea grass. The county seeks more funds to expand the program, and urges residents to donate to the “Adopt-a-Buoy” program.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/29/3026177/ancient-mariner-reef-gets-addition.html#storylink=cpy"


http://www.fksa.org/gallery3/var/res...g?m=1349131355

ricki 05-15-2015 12:28 PM

I was speaking with Pavan of Dixie Divers when I noticed this video on a wall monitor of his shop featuring Dr. Ray. Pavan tells me they shot this in 2013.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWnzzeKd_A8

I was looking around for some different photos to include and came across Dr. Mac's obituary in the Sun-Sentinel.

"Dr. Raymond F. (Dr. Mac) McAllister
Obituary
Guest Book
22 entries | 4 photos
The Guest Book is expired.
Restore the Guest Book

McAllister, Dr. Raymond F. (Dr. Mac), Age 89, of Lighthouse Point, FL passed away quietly in his home on Monday, September 17, 2012. He was born in 1923 to Raymond and Jessie McAllister, with honorary father King Neptune. He is survived by his two sons, Keith and Kevin McAllister; his daughter, Karen Day; granddaughters, Lisa and Maureen McAllister, Cristin Day, and Kerry McAllister; grandsons, Matthew McAllister, Patrick Day, and Evan McAllister; great grandson Nicholas, and great granddaughter Isabella. He will be greatly missed. Ray served his country with honor and courage in the United States Army during WWII early invasion of North Africa, the Italian campaign including the Anzio landings, and in Southern France. He received his doctorate in Marine Geology from Texas A&M in College Station, TX. Ray maintained a lifelong fascination with and love of the world's oceans. He learned to scuba dive in 1952. That began his career teaching about the oceans, studying and exploring them worldwide from Bermuda to Guam. One of his more unusual exploits was his attempt to ride a humpback whale one evening at sea, when he got his foot caught in the blowhole. The whale rolled away from the side of the ship and sounded (as whales are wont to do with a foot inserted). Clearly he extricated himself and lived to tell the story again and again and again. Ray helped start the world's first Ocean Engineering program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and taught oceanography there for 28 years, before retiring as a Professor Emeritus in 1993. He was a founder and mentor of the FAU Human Powered Submarine race team. During the years he lived in southeast Florida, Dr. Mac tirelessly advocated for the protection and preservation of Florida's coral reefs. He served as an honorary member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, was an active member of the Under Sea Adventurers Dive Club, participated as an honorary member of the Old Time Music Jammers, and had served as a member of the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society. For more information about Dr. Ray McAllister, see his website at http://dinodiver.com/index.html. A Mass will be said in his memory at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, September 22 at Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Lighthouse Point, with a reception to follow at 11 a.m. at the Pompano Beach Elks Lodge No. 1898, 700 NE 10th St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060. In lieu of flowers, Ray would appreciate contributions to Catholic Charities USA or Catholic Relief Services. Arrangements entrusted to Kraeer Funeral Home, 1199 E. Sample Rd, Pompano Beach, FL 33064.

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sunsentinel/obituary.aspx?pid=160000707#sthash.XNN0HFEn.dpuf"

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