Mosman bids farewell to beloved homeless man Ray Johnson at wharf-side service

THERE were tears and laughter as a much-loved homeless man who lived at Mosman Bay wharf - dubbed his ‘summer palace’ - was farewelled by residents there on Tuesday.

One of the tributes left at Mosman Bay Wharf.

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THERE were tears and laughter as beloved homeless man Ray Johnson was farewelled at Mosman Bay wharf - where he lived in his ‘summer palace’ - on Tuesday.

Mr Johnson might have been homeless but when it came to his memorial service, Frank Sinatra’s song My Way was just as fitting a tribute to him as it is to any other the song encapsulated, including self-made billionaires and movie stars.

The song might have been played on car CD player parked nearby, but it was still a poignant gesture to Mr Johnson, who died in hospital in December.

Ray Johnson was a friend to many Mosman residents.

About 40 residents gathered for his memorial service, held at what he called his summer palace — a bench at the wharf where he lived for about six years.

A social worker who attended said she’d never experienced a memorial like it for a homeless person.

There was also a sense of pride among the mourners that Mosman could care so much about a homeless man.

There were tears and laughter at the memorial service.

There were several Mosman Council representatives at the service and local police sent a fond message.

One resident, Michael Hasemer, revealed Mr Johnson and his brother were only about eight years old when they were both sent to work on a cattle farm and never saw their parents again.

Ferry commuters and residents expressed their sorrow at no longer being greeted by Mr Johnson every morning, remarking that he was always up for a chat and even enjoyed playing matchmaker.

He told the Mosman Daily just before his death that he was determined to bring people together and make them smile. Some commuters have become friends thanks to Mr Johnson’s persistence.

One of the tributes left at Mosman Bay Wharf.

Friend Brynnie Goodwill said Mr Johnson was a loyal and generous man.

“We never thought of him as homeless and neither did he. He looked after the wharf like it was his own. Ray just wanted to part of a community, and he craved friendship,” Ms Goodwill said.

“Ray taught me to re-evaluate my life and priorities.’’

Residents plan to put a plaque on Mr Johnson’s bench and to establish an archive of all the letters and notes that were left at his bench after his death at Mosman Library.

After the service, Mr Johnson’s ashes were quietly scattered across the waters of Mosman Bay.

The Mosman Daily fondly remembers many interviews with Mr Johnson and the time he caught a bus to our North Sydney office to deliver a box of cupcakes as a thank you for a story published about him.

Ray’s friends shared stories about his time in Mosman.