Albany Academy

This is a moment - to be remembered - this is a moment that will be remembered - in the hearts - minds - bodies - and souls - of each and every one of you sitting here - this day - June 11, 1997 - The 184^th Commencement - of the Albany Academy.

I congratulate each of you - that is graduating today - I want to thank - each one of you - for this beautiful - and prestigious - honor - you have bestowed upon me - It is both humbling - and heartwarming - I welcome it - I cherish it.

 I would like to invite the student body - that will eventually meet the requirements - to have their own commencement day - in future years to come - to share in this moment - As you look on in wonderment - asking yourself - "Will that day ever come?" - I assure you it will - Be patient - Enjoy your trip - for one day - you will look back - at this whole period of time -and realize - how short it was.

I would like to invite the faculty - from the art instructor - to the math teacher - from English - to music - to science - to history - to language - to the librarian - whose labor - delicate and most arduous task - of teaching these young men - has come to an end today - Your patience - your love - your caring - your compassion - your tolerance - your unlimited framework - for your abilities - to teach young minds - and prepare them for life itself - must be commended - There are apprehensions somewhat - as I speak - a little sadness also - to see these young men - leave your ward - I believe it is outweighed - by the tremendous feeling of joy - each of you - also - must feel - by the communion - of accomplishment - and success - that is witnessed here - today. These young men will never forget you - You have given them life's greatest - commodity - knowledge - preparing them to walk life's path - to see the pitfalls - and to utilize - to the utmost of their abilities - the teachings - that have been taught here - at this academy - Dear faculty - please share in this moment.

To the athletic director - to the coaches - to the assistants - to the program itself - of physical education - The evening - is drawing near - your job - also - has come to an end - You have trained the mind - and body - to act as one - the spirit of winning - eased the heartbreak - when you lost - They have learned what competition - was all about - and sportsmanship - above all - In today's sports oriented society of ours - we do need leaders - You have done - your very best - to uphold the integrity - and dignity - of the task at hand - You have taught these young men - the boundaries of the game - the uncalled for fouls - the timely - time-outs - that they will utilize - for the rest of their life - as they step onto the playing field - of our complex - and ever so changing world - I invite you to share in this moment.

To the parents - let me not forget you - for each of you were present - at the beginning - of their journey - Reflect with me - your tears of joy - when your son was born - the days - the years - that followed - when he first smiled - realizing he had a mother and a father - When he took his first step - when he said his first word - when he blew out candle - number 1 - The nights you stayed awake - because he were crying - the fears - that you gently eased - The worries - you endured - for the values you instilled in him - so that he may walk in peace - the times he was sick - and you nursed him back to health - for the love - tears - joys - and understanding - you gave - to accompany him - for his lifetime - the sacrifices - there were so many - the braces on his teeth - the events you came to see your son excel in - how proud you were - And that first time he came to you - and asked you for the car - And the deep concern - each of you have - that your son be a light of hope - for someone whose courage - is faltering - that he may be used as an instrument - to give - to heal - To fulfill life's forum - for the betterment - of mankind - I invite you to share in this moment.

To all the friends - the sisters - the brothers - grandmothers and grandfathers - uncles - aunts and cousins - I invite you to share in this moment - for each of you - share in part - the library of knowledge - that exists in the mind - and heart - of each young man - that is graduating today.

The Alumni Association with its vast outreach program - undertaking the task of linking 65 or 70 years of graduates - to present day functions - at the Academy - which you the class of 1997 - will be a part of - in a very short time - to make the same journey - that many of us have made - I invite you to share in this moment.

The Board of Trustees - year after year - working tirelessly - for the betterment of the school - and the integrity - of the students - making decisions that must be made - for the future of the Academy - to keep up with change - the one facet of life - that is constant - it is not an easy task - I commend each of you - you are truly unsung heroes - I invite you to share in this moment - And to the surrounding staff that support the Academy - the web of intricacies - the secretaries - the staff at the buttery - and the Academy Store - to the gentleman that warms your school in winter - and keeps it clean - by day -

The cornerstone of this Academy - has been laid some 184 years ago -1813 to be exact - The Albany Academy - highest standards - compelling values - the workings of this institution - are far reaching - and never ending - encompassing - and weathering - incredulous - and most phenomenal -periods of history - our country has faced - From the war of 1812 - the Civil War - The turn of the 20^th century - Vaccines wiping out small pox - and polio - From the horse - to the car - to the plane - to the rocket - From a walk down Main Street USA - to that historical walk - on the moon itself - We have fought two World Wars - Korea - Vietnam - the Gulf War - Heart transplants - are no longer a figment - of the imagination - We have endured earthquakes - hurricanes - tornadoes - floods - snowstorms - heat waves - And the introduction of the atomic age - I could go on but I think I'd better stop here - This is what the Albany Academy has seen - and much more -

Today it sees the class of 1997 - standing ever so proud - standing tall - this class will always be unique - to this year - to this day - for you are the only ones graduating - from the Albany Academy - at this particular moment

Today we entrust the present - future - and the overwhelming task - of preserving the ethics - our founders laid for us - to Head of School - Lawrence T. Piatelli - the legacy is in good hands - strong hands - steeped deep in integrity - He dignifies the essence of purity - and has compassion - for the soul - He does not compromise - his values - nor justify - his positions -The welfare of the student - is paramount - He will lead most - of this student body - into the 21^st Century - He will be able to guide - and give you courage - in troubled times - when they arise - He will placate - the fears - and encourage - the spirit - He will be your head of School - he will be your strength - until you have your own - And many a times - he must stand alone - in the solitude of his own thoughts - to make a decision - a very lonely place to be in - Head of School - Mr. Piatelli - I invite you to share - in this moment.

To these beautiful young men - I care about you - I care about your welfare - I care that each of you - hear something I say - something that you can carry from me - for the rest of your life - as I will carry this moment - I spend with you - for the rest of my life.

This is truly your moment - This class has spent the better part of six years - together - some more - You know each other very well - you know who did what - when - and where - went on your first dates together - saw your best friend cry - because he broke up with his first girlfriend - went to your first dance together - got your first awards - played your first game of varsity football - swam your first meet - how your heart beat before the start - Alliance - and Allegiance - you all had with each other - for each other. How about all the worries of passing a test - or getting a paper in on time - Or how about when you got in trouble - and were sent to the office - that heart beat again - didn't it? Each of you know this school - inside and out - it will never leave you - as long as you live - And somehow I believe - that these halls - these classrooms - still house some of the teachers - and students - that have passed on -

The step out - the excitement of tomorrow - the accomplishments of today - the journey- with it's twists - some good - some not so good - the joys that will come your way - the girlfriend - that you will marry - the wife - that will bear your child. Some of you will be lawyers - doctors - physicists - chemists - actors - businessmen - or just a man - that has a feel - for humanity- - you name it - It is here - in this class of 1997 - The journey you're on - will see the blinds open - to the 21^st century - It is your century - A lot different from the beginning of the 20^th century - for our world - and the people in it - move rapidly - swiftly - and sometimes without thinking - Some of you will be asked to solve - world problems - to contribute - to the salvation - of our society itself.

We have a troubled society - beware - Some of you here today - may be able to ease the pain - that will exist - in the heart - of the unborn - You are prepared - you are equipped - the shadows that exist for the 21^st century - are many - The challenges - that you will be asked to face - in the century to come - are many - from overpopulation - global warming - extinction of our beautiful animals - that inhabit our Earth - the pollution - of our oceans - and water ways - the very air - that we breathe - And as the years pass - you will have instant recall - of how it was in the year of 1997 - And when you come back to your reunion - you will reflect - for just a moment - and relive the picture - that is here today - coupling it with the thought - of how simple life was - in 1997 - For this year truly - belongs to you.

As most of you know - I was here in April - to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award - a tremendous honor - And as I sat in the fourth grade room - I thought back to 1943 - and my fourth grade teacher - Ms. Swantee - I was sent here - because I couldn't read - or spell - I had been held back 2 years - as I went into this grade - I was not too literate - a mild absence of knowledge - I was 10 years old - when I arrived at the Albany Academy - but before then - I spent three years in an orphanage - from 4 to 7 - not a nice place to be in - in 1937 - When one tried to run away - they caught him - laid him out on a table - sat us all around - in a big room - and made us watch - as they whipped - that boy fiercely - far beyond his crime - I can still see it - I can still hear the cries - By the time I was 7 years of age - the only inner feeling I knew - was loneliness - It haunted me - it beguiled me - it wounded me so deep - that to this day - I can still recall - those feelings - Many a time during those years- I huddled in a corner - and cried - Those feelings have never left me -

From that orphanage in New York - to another - across the river in Troy - But this time I was close to Albany - I planned an escape - For I knew -where my grandfather -lived -

On that Saturday - so many years ago - I - in the literal sense - ran to the house - on the corner - of Maine and New Scotland Avenue - I remember it so clearly - Down the stairs - to the cellar - I went - weeping so - most frightened - I pounded on the door - My Grandfather came - opened it - I looked up at him and I said - "Please don't let them take me back, Grandpa" I pleaded - I begged - I cried - He stood six feet two - He picked me up in his arms - and said - "Nobody is ever going to take you away again"- I can still feel the strength - the power - of his arms around me - I lived with him - in the cellar - for three glorious years - I never wanted to leave his side - I loved him so much - He gave me hope - He gave me love - He gave me warmth - He gave me compassion - He gave me life - Today he is with me - As I walk in the September of my years - the vision of my Grandfather - becomes ever so prevalent - for I know he will be - waiting for me - one more time - to hold me - and guide - me through eternity.

I was allowed to have wine - as a youngster - little did I know the effect - it would have on me later -

I want to speak of some of these ironies of life - I don't want to hide behind any mask - of self deluded ideas - or images - I want you young men - to see me as I am - to feel me - to know me - I don't want any of you to think - I'm misleading you - or trying to put something - in your head - that doesn't belong there - I'm not - I do not want - in any way - to tamper - with the inner beauty - each of you have - I am passionately concerned - about each of you - I would love nothing more - than to transmit the passion - that is swirling around - inside of me - to each of you.

So many times you will hear said - "The young men of today - are the hope - and future - of tomorrow" - What a burden - The future of tomorrow - on your shoulders - You haven't gotten through today yet - You will wake up one day - and say - " I am so far behind - it doesn't matter any more " - You are not the hope of the future - You are the hope - you are the young men - of today - The Now - Each of you have the capability - within your grasp - of making a difference - today - with your knowledge - your energy - your ideas - with your compassion - your tolerance- your understanding - your love - your lust - for life itself - Each of you - here today - have that capacity - what a triumph - what a concept.

As I stated - a few moments ago - I was 10 years of age - when I arrived here - at the Academy - I graduated in 1952 - and I had a lust for life - The only formal education I received - was here - at this institution - my foundation - I carried this foundation - with me - to New York - to become an actor - The Marine Corp interrupted my quest - for a period of three years - In 1957 I was back acting again - plays in New York - Summer Stock - Repertory - TV - etc. - that little bit of wine - I had as a child - had progressed - as part of my demeanor -

In those late 50's - my talent as an actor grew - At one time Helen Hayes - one of the finest actresses of our time - came back stage - to congratulate me on my performance - Just 7 or 8 years later - in 1966 - after coming to Hollywood - and doing many TV shows - in the early sixties - I stood outside 20^th Century Fox Studio - I did not know what show - I was on - let alone my lines - I had to ask the guard at the gate - what show I was doing - the use and abuse of alcohol - had rendered me - almost immobile - that talented young actor - the one that could learn 450 lines - and perform three days later - was no more.

For the next three years - the tortures of life - the downhill slide that seemed to never end - the Skid Rows I have seen many - been on many - from New York - to Miami - to Los Angeles - the hopelessness - the fears - the deterioration - of my mind - my body - my soul itself - loneliness - and despair - prevailed - By 1969 I was bleeding internally - huge sores on my body - that would never heal - long hair - bearded - dirty - audio - and visual - hallucinations - black outs - I shuffled as I walked - I spoke in circles - I could not pronounce words - I weighed but 140 pounds - One ounce of alcohol - rendered me immobile - I was 36 years of age - I was dying.

Sometime in July of 1969 - a warm - and all encompassing feeling -came over me - the realization that death - was imminent - and near - A moment later - I held a bottle of Gin in my hand - And I uttered these words - "Please God help me - I don't want to drink this." - Next month - July- 28 years will have passed - since my cry - of despair - was heard - for I have been without alcohol or drugs - whatsoever in my body - for this period of time - a miracle - For many years - I was ashamed to come back to the Academy - for I had done nothing - accomplished nothing - I just gave heartache - to any one - I came in contact with - I was ashamed - to see my teachers - I was ashamed - to see my classmates - But those same classmates - that were at this ceremony - with me - 45 years ago - came to my side - with love - and understanding - they didn't care - what I had accomplished in life - they just wanted to see me - This is the bond - that will last the ages - for each of you - You will all go your separate ways - but the graduating class - of 1997 - from the Albany Academy - will forever - be together - Faces will change with time - bodies altered by age - hair thinner- voices differ - But 1997 - will never change - It is here now - and it belongs to you -

In 1987 I was most discouraged - I had done many T.V. shows - worked with some of the top people in Hollywood - honed my talent back - to where it was - when I was a young actor - But disappointment set in - the loss of a Broadway play - The never ending roles on TV - that were always the same - another realization - that things would never change - came to me - I decided to leave Hollywood - and my life as I knew it - I took off in my white truck - for parts unknown - living out of the back of my truck - I traveled absolutely nowhere - for several months - pounding my dashboard - pleading for guidance - begging for help - crying at times - despondent - angry - and ever so lonely - one more time - I was 54 years of age.

I'd like to say right here - I had a vision - But that's not true - it sure would make a nice story -

One day while driving in that truck of mine - I had a feeling come over me - to go back to Los Angeles - much against my will I did - As the next several days unfolded - I was directed by this inner feeling - to serve food in the downtown area - known as the Skid Row section - This was not on my personal agenda - I want this understood - But I was obedient - to the feeling

On Dec 5 1987 it was a rainy Friday night - cold - miserable - At three in the morning - I made 111 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - and waited for dawn - a couple of friends of mine - showed up around 8 am - and downtown I went - Since that rainy Saturday morning - what was only to be - a short moment in my life - turned into a decade - the 111 sandwiches - have now grown to over 575,000 meals served - to the destitute - the homeless - the downtrodden - the despaired - to the unwanted - and discarded human beings - of our society - where water - is a premium - on hot summer days - and soup - a welcome - on cold - winter nights.

In 1992 - I received a magnificent letter - from President Bush - In 1994 a beautiful letter - from President Clinton - And on a warm Spring day - in 1995 - over the loud speaker - came these words - "Ladies and Gentleman - the President of the United States of America " - For one brief moment - as the President came through the Oval Office - into the Rose Garden - the vision of past Presidents became prominent - I saw President Roosevelt - I saw Truman - Eisenhower - I saw President Kennedy - fragmented seconds they were - I realized where I was - I came from my own depths of despair - to the highest office - of our country - to meet the most powerful man - in the world - And when President Clinton - gave me this elegant medal - he said to me - "Thank you Ray - for taking care of the people - of Skid Row - in Los Angeles" - I said thank you Mr. President - I had tears - emotions - and wonderment for this precious moment - I accepted this tribute - on behalf of the hundreds of volunteers - and the thousands of people that have supported me - and the residents of Skid Row - I am truly interwoven - with this society of people - and how proud they were - that I met the President -

I have spent the better part of 10 years of my life - on the streets of Skid Row - this time no alcohol - no drugs - The darkened streets - at night with the fires - the scarred souls - where hope is at a minimum - where rape - murder - prostitution - stabbings - gun shot wounds - drugs - alcohol - gang bangers - and violence beyond reproach - sleep by day - somewhat - I have held twisting bodies - ravaged by alcohol convulsions - I have held bodies fallen -by heart attacks - I have held these bodies in my arms - waiting for the paramedics to come - I have hugged the lonely - of our society - I have had them weep - in my arms - I have felt the stomach - of the pregnant women - for they did not know - who the father was - I have intervened in knife fights - I can speak the language of the streets - but also - the language of the heart - I have been the father - mother - sister - brother these people didn't have - And every time I left downtown - I also wept - for I realized I was used again - as an instrument - of the Will of God - for the betterment - of mankind - what a privilege- what an honor -

Four principles - have dominated my make-up - for many years now - allow me to share them with you - Purity - honesty - unselfishness - and love - With these principles - and only these principles - I have been able to face - with dignity - the onslaught of humanity that suffers so - I have gained the respect - the love of thousands - I see no color - I see no man nor woman - I only see equality for the human race - There is no room in my heart - for prejudice -

 Purity cannot embrace segregation - nor bigotry - nor can it differentiate between male or female - young or old - black or white - One glass of distilled water - one drop of ink - into that glass - it becomes contaminated - deceit - hate - dishonesty - selfishness - resentment - anger - etc. - etc. - become contaminants - of the mind - and soul - when allowed to infiltrate - one's thinking -

The second of these principles is - honesty - most powerful - every moment of life that passes - is a true moment - It is an honest moment or a dishonest moment - You make that choice - Each of you are gifted - with the power of choice - within your own framework - You all know the boundaries - of honesty - or dishonesty -

Third principle - struggling to stay alive - in our world today - Unselfishness - To give purely - to ask for nothing - to put the welfare of someone - or something ahead of oneself - to wake up in the morning - with the sole purpose - of helping mankind - to go to bed at night - knowing I have been a contributor - to the mainstream of life - for the betterment of the human race - To be free of self - with this principle in place - an individual can do - so much - for so many - Unselfishness - a priceless principle - and attribute - to encompass -

"Grant me - that I may not so much seek - to be consoled - as to console - To be understood - as to understand - To be loved - as to love - For it is in the giving - that we receive - It is in the pardoning - that we are pardoned - And it is in dying - that we are born to eternal life" - Most succinct - most elegant - most profound - St. Francis of Assisi - 1182-1226

Love - is the last of these four principles - In order for me to love - there must be no conditions - A mountain can be moved with this simple concept in place - I received a letter in 1965 - the letter came from my father's brother - I didn't know my father - so obviously - I didn't know his brother - When I opened the letter - a small group of baby pictures - became visible - I looked at the pictures - they were of me - the letter went something like this - "On February 18, 1965 - your father - was so riddled with cancer - so weak - he could not hold a glass of water - in his hand -Nonetheless - he managed - to get out of bed - go over to his dresser - pull out these pictures and say " - "This is my son's birthday" - He died 12 days later - He was my father - He loved me - He had no conditions -

I do not rationalize - justify - or compromise these principles - When times are tough - these principles will supercede - the agony - and when times are good - they will accent - the joys - You will realize a freedom - beyond any expectation - you will enjoy peace of mind - and you will have power - that will carry you through life's - triumphs - and tragedies - You will be able to function on any plane - of life itself - cope with any situation - that may come up - you will be able to face - any human being - on this Earth of ours - with the utmost clarity - and dignity -

You have been educated to the highest level - thus far - you are qualified to enter any college - in the United States - or other parts of the world - What an accomplishment - Each of you must be proud - knowing what you have done - a big sigh of relief - also- to realize - that 1997 - has finally come - This is the last time you will be together - in this form - only your memory - will prevail.

I ask each and every person - sitting here today - experiencing this graduation - to focus - for a moment - to channel your love - your compassion - your understanding - your wisdom - your energy - allow it to flow here - to each - and every one - of these beautiful young men - Let them take a part of you - with them - now - as they go from here - I ask you - Be a part of their journey - be a part of their life - be a part of their world - from this day forward -

There is an adage - It goes like this - "What he is - speaks so loud - I cannot hear a word he says - by example" - Each of you - are an example - for the betterment of mankind - not through words - but by action - We are together - we are equal - You are my examples - You are my teachers - I walk - not in front of you - but by your side - Whatever it is you must learn in life - always remember - when the pupil is ready - the teacher will appear-

As you walk from these halls - may your hearts be full - may your joys of tomorrow - be your realities of today - Each of you are perfect the way you are - I am not out to change anyone - my only challenge in life is to comfort the soul - to still the racing mind - for a moment - to give back to humanity - the courage - it has given me - to carry on - to be an example - of caring - Interwoven on the broad cloth of life - are many distractions - pulling and tugging - at the very core - of the ethics - you live by - Do not lose sight - of what it is you are destined - to achieve in your lifetime - Follow your dreams - Stay focused - whether it be selling flowers on the street corner - or re-arranging the stars in the heavens.

Falter not as you go - you are well prepared - schooled to the highest level - uncompromised in your thinking - the courage each of you have - will stand strong - you are a most beautiful group - highly gifted - you have given to me - a most precious moment - a moment I will take with me - and share with the people - by the fires - on the streets - of Skid Row - on those cold winter nights - a moment that will last eternally - in my heart - And that lonely - empty feeling inside my soul - that I have carried so long - will be at rest - a bit - when I think of this moment - I walk away from this most magnificent - and beautiful - and energized area - of love - with a lifetime of dreams fulfilled - Thank you for allowing me to share - this time - with you.

May each of you - stand tall - among the giants - of humanity - and when you reach your destination - as I have reached mine - I hope you find - what I have found - that the end - was but a beginning - May God bless you - until we meet again.