Dear Members,

It is with much sadness and regret that I must inform you of the passing of Leslie Gray.

Leslie first joined Newport Yacht Club in 1961 as a junior member taking sailing lessons when she was eleven years old.  She later transferred from a junior membership to an adult membership at age 21 and remained a member of Newport Yacht Club for 58 years.   A native Newporter and lifelong 5th warder, Leslie was an active member at Newport Yacht Club and participated in numerous Club sponsored events and projects throughout the years.  Her family, along with many other club families, built their own Blue Jays in the workshop of her uncle (past Commodore) George Martland.

Their family boat was named “Cyanocitta” and she and her sisters and her father all enjoyed racing it. She spent many summer weekends racing in the Narragansett Bay Yachting Association regattas. Leslie crewed for Pam (Barter) Grant and together they won three Narragansett Bay Adam’s Trophies. Crewing for Becky Wood in the 1975 Adam’s cup series, Leslie and her team members successfully made it to the national regatta in Balboa, California where they brought home 3rd place. She also crewed on Mike Mederios’s National winning ensign with Moose McClintock and Neill Gray, her future husband. Leslie also enjoyed frostbite sailing in the winter. She loved preparing soup with her NYC friends as the club’s donation to the “soup to the docks” program through the Seaman’s Church Institute. She also served on numerous committees and was an active volunteer throughout her years at the club. Leslie loved days on the water with her friends laughing and reminiscing about the days spent in their youth at NYC.