Jesse Gale Kray

 

Jesse Gale Kray Resident of Richmond Jesse Gale Kray died of heart failure October 3, 2010, at Kaiser Hospital in Richmond, CA. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, October 9 at Sunset View Mortuary, 100 Colusa Avenue at Fairmount Avenue, El Cerrito, CA. Jess's brother, Arthur Krakowsky, will officiate. Jess Kray was born on February 17, 1942, in Syracuse, New York, to Henry and Frances Krakowsky. Henry and Frances immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe. Jess graduated from Vallejo High School in 1959, and served in the U.S. Navy until 1964. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri in 1967. He became a California licensed Mechanical Engineer in 1977. He completed a Master of Arts in psychology at John F. Kennedy University in 1980, and obtained a California Marriage, Family and Child Counseling license in 1982. Jess was employed as a mechanical engineer at the Chevron Research Center in Richmond, CA, from 1967 to 1985. In 1985, Jess started his licensed electrical contracting business, Kray Cabling, Inc. in Richmond, CA, which continues operation after his death. Jess was a Contra Costa County resident for 44 years. Jess's hobbies included metal working in his shop. He enjoyed restoring old "junk" back to better than new. Jess liked to capture and edit photos showing the range of human emotions. He enjoyed restoring old voice recordings of family members from vinyl to digital. Jess was a sometimes prolific poet. Jess loved to debate national political issues from a progressive perspective. He was generous and giving to family, friends, and employees, going out of his way to treat everyone in his life with respect. His presence and love will be sorely missed by all. Jess is survived by his 18-year partner, Sherry Padgett; his daughter Rachael Morgan of Vermont; his brother Arthur Krakowsky of Livermore, CA; and his sister Zena Krakowsky of Scotts Valley, CA. Donations can be sent in the name of Jess Kray to: Friends of Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804. Donations can be specified for the purchase of books for children or adults and a bookplate will be placed inside the book(s) - or the donation can be nonspecific.