Name: Visitation for Gary R. McVay
Start: 2019-04-28T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-04-29T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels - North Miami Beach

McVAY, GARY R., 66 passed away Saturday, April 20, 2019, from an acute illness. He was born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana and moved to Miami in 1979 to pursue a career with Exxon Corporation following graduation from Indiana University and Purdue University where he earned his MBA. Gary embraced Miami as his new home with all of the gusto that was Gary. He learned to sail a boat on Biscayne Bay and enjoyed scuba diving with his friends. Following the closure of Exxon's Coral Gables office, Gary worked at AA Green, various law firms, and ultimately worked in forensic accounting with Grant Thornton and Forensic Data Services prior to his retirement. Along the way, he earned a Paralegal degree as well and currently serves as Chairperson of the Miami Dade College Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee. He has served as President of his condominium association for several terms and is a founding member of the USS Indianapolis Legacy Foundation. With his marriage to Donna, Gary fully embraced the Ukrainian American culture of his wife's family. He became a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, The Ukrainian American Club of Miami and has served as President of the Corporate Board of the Ukrainian Dancers of Miami, Inc. for several years. Gary has friends from every stage of his life who feel blessed to have known him and feel deep sorrow for his loss. All will miss him greatly. He is survived by his wife, Donna Krysa McVay, sisters Charlotte Hicks (Bill) and Patricia Krysa, brother Brian McVay (Robin Hamm), niece Stephanie Hicks Karst (George), and great nieces Theodora and Zoey. May his memory be eternal. Visitation is Sunday, April 28th from 5:00 pm 9:00 pm at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapel, 17250 West Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, 33160. On Monday, April 29th Divine Liturgy is at 10:30 am, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 38 N.W. 57th Avenue, Miami, FL 33126. Entombment follows at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery 11411 N.W. 25th Street Doral, FL 33172 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ukrainian Dancers of Miami (www.UkrainianDancersMiami.org) and the USS Indianapolis Legacy Foundation (www.USSIndianapolis.com/Lagacy-Org)

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Published by the Miami Herald on Apr. 27, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Gary McVay

8 Entries

James Belcher Jr

April 21, 2024

Gary, it's been five years since we lost you. Your absence has been felt repeatedly in those years. You are never forgotten. I know you watch over us all from above. Our guardian angel.

Jim Belcher Jr

April 24, 2023

Gary, you are sadly missed. Wishing you could see the USS Indianapolis Legacy Organization you were key to getting off the ground. It's everything we hoped plus more. You'd be proud.

May 8, 2019

Dear McVay family,

I am saddened to learn of Gary's passing. He was a valued presence in the Paralegal Studies Program at Miami Dade College. We will miss him. His larger than life personality was an asset for the program whether he was a student, alumni, or member of the program's Advisory Committee. His sense of humor brought release and laughter in moments that needed a reminder that we didn't need to take those moments so seriously. He was always supportive of the program which was a welcomed relief in times when it appeared that the administration did not.
I so appreciated him as a colleague and friend. His legacy resonates with every student who is a "non-traditional" student... older, wiser and more imbued with life experiences than the average student entering the college. He will always be remembered.

Thank you for sharing Gary with the Paralegal Studies Program.

Marvelle McIntyre-Hall, Esq.
Former Director of The Law Center
At Miami Dade College
2006-2007; 2011-2016

Stephen Savage

May 3, 2019

God bless to a real fine man who did all he could for the crew and the legacy of the USS Indianapolis. Rest in peace, my friend.

Gary, Ed Harrell, me & Scooter in Lynchburg VA 2019

Jim BELCHER

April 28, 2019

I lost a dear friend in Gary. I too am the son of a USS Indianapolis survivor.

I came to know Gary well in the past four years, when it became obvious to several of us that with the USS Indianapolis Survivors Organization was soon to pass into history, and with the informal Stewards of the Indianapolis group not having legal status as a non-profit, we needed to explore serious interest in a functional organization to truly preserve the legacy of the crew to the extent and satisfaction they deserved. And when I stood at the podium at a reunion and asked if there was anyone else willing to do the hard work of getting an organization like this off the ground, it was Gary McVay who had already volunteered. And although it truly took a committed and talented group of wonderful folks to get it done, it was honestly under Gary's leadership the task was accomplished last summer, 2018. He was truly instrumental in putting in place the new USS Indianapolis Legacy Organization, and he will be sorely missed by those of us who worked close with him these past few years, attended online meetings with him, got phone calls and inquiries & advice to/from him, and most importantly, laughed a lot with him. A man of the highest integrity, class, respect, honor and dignity. God bless you, Gary McVay. I will never forget you. Your friend forever and ever. See you on the other side one day my brother.

April 28, 2019

I'm truly sorry for your loss.My God in his love and compassion lift you thorough your grief Isaiah 63:9 Joe Miami Florida JW

dave and diana pallante

April 27, 2019

RIP Gary- and may God comfort those who loved you at this time and always.

April 27, 2019

McVay family, my sincere sympathy to you. May your treasured memories continue to provide a measure of comfort and peace to the family. Please be strengthened from (Isaiah 61:1,2) our God "binds up the broken-hearted and comforts all who mourn"

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