Pigeon Cove - Ray Makkonen (aka Hawk, Coach, Papa), 75, forever of Pigeon Cove, MA., passed away in his home on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Born on June 2, 1951, and raised on Stockholm Avenue as the son of the late Reino and Evelyn Makkonen, Ray grew up raising hell in the woods and quarries of Pigeon Cove -- swimming, fishing, drinking beer, and hauling ass through the woods in old beaters (1-2 of which may or may not still be up there). In his youth Ray was also a proud Rockport Viking varsity athlete in baseball and basketball, and was a graduate of Rockport High School, Class of 1969.

In the 1970s, Ray trained and worked as a machinist in GE's Aircraft Engine Division in Lynn, to which he would entertainingly drive carpool in his beloved 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge. (That car had quite a life outside of carpooling as well.) Ray later taught machine shop in the Beverly and Gloucester public schools, where he also coached basketball, and he was a special education teacher at Harbor Schools.

After his school teaching career Ray worked as a longline fisherman out of Gloucester as captain of the Ocean Belle, and then as an educator and administrator in the prison systems in Massachusetts (at MCI Concord) and then in Hawaii (at Halawa and at Oahu CCC). He lived happily in Honolulu from 1994 to 2010. Ray loved spending time at the Waikiki Broiler, Chart House, and at Snappers Sports Bar (where he also tended bar amongst close friends).

Ray moved back to Pigeon Cove in 2013 to help care for his mother Evelyn, and later moved into Rockport's Millbrook Park community, where he served on the Rockport Housing Authority Board.

Throughout his life Ray would recuperate from his adventures via wicked heats on the top bench at the family's sauna (Reino's Sauna), which operated on Stockholm Avenue for decades. Ray subsequently crafted uniquely custom saunas for himself at every one of his residences.

Ultimately, Ray's favorite job was retiree/amateur golfer, and he displayed his very entertaining fall-away swing twice a week at Rockport Country Club. But he also loved being Papa Ray for his grandkids Viena and Esa, and would hilariously laugh as he tried to read them stories. His laugh was contagious, and was loved by those who knew him.

Ray is survived by his son Reino Makkonen and daughter-in-law Julie Makkonen, and his grandchildren Viena and Esa Makkonen, of San Francisco, CA, as well as by many beloved cousins, nephews, and nieces. He is also survived by his former wife, Susan Makkonen of Wildwood FL, with whom he shared many happy years.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents as well as by his brother, Everett Wayrynen, by his sister, Cynthia Gralenski, and by his brother-in-law, John Gralenski, as well as by his cousin/best friend Albert Johnson.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Spiran Lodge in Rockport, from 1:00-4:00pm on Sunday July 19. Please come by to laugh and share memories of Ray.

A private burial will be held at Beech Grove Cemetery in Rockport.

Donations in Ray's name can be made to the Spiran Lodge scholarship fund. Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. For online condolences, please visit www.greelyfuneralhome.com