Ray Goffinet

Ray Goffinet (left in picture at left) has been a long-time supporter of DeLaSalle.

When I first met Ray, it was 1985, and he had just given a significant (and unsolicited) gift to DeLaSalle. I went out to personally thank him, and he told me how much he admired Godfrey Kobets. Ray said that he wanted to support Mr. Kobets' legacy.

Over the past 25 years, I have visited Ray perhaps a dozen times. He has continued his generous support of DeLaSalle, but I never knew THE REST OF THE STORY...until this past Wednesday.

I happened to be in Ray's neighborhood after a fundraising call , and thought I would stop by and say hi. Ray is a very mild-mannered and hospitable gentleman, and I knew I would be welcomed if he was at home. I never knew he had any family until I met his sister, Dorothy Kapsch (she is to the right in the above picture), who told me that morning about two of the family's relatives who had gone to the old De La Salle in the 1920s. These young men (their last name was Muser) had both become paralyzed and were unable to finish their high school coursework, so the Christian Brothers went to their home and tutored the young men who eventually received their diplomas! What a wonderful story, and another reason why people in Kansas City think so highly of DeLaSalle, and the legacy Godfrey Kobets established to carry on exceptional work to provide a quality education to those most in need!

Thanks Ray and I appreciate meeting your sister and learning the rest of the story of your generosity! And thanks to Godfrey Kobets and to all of the Brothers and our staff, who carry on an incredible legacy of service!