Damn I was shocked hearing the news of Alex’s passing this last summer. As others have commented he was a true individual, whip smart, creative, snarky, and funny who definitely made a positive in my life. I met the LA raver boy while he was in High School with his bright orange TD Mercedes working the summers at EarthLink. We became closer while we were both living in New York and shared the same friend group. Alex was always trying to help me with my new business and referred two of my first employees. We shared a couple house together in Fire Island as well as Provincetown together.
He was always trying to get me involved in some adventure. The one that stands out was a weekend trip to Philadelphia from New York. Alex picked me up on a Friday after work in what I believe was his orange Mercedes and he had our  itinerary planned to the minute. He had the  car outfitted with an early gps system hooked to his Friendster account and hooked to maybe to a blackberry. The purpose was so we can see who was close by as we headed toward Philly and can decide if they were worthy company or not. It was a beyond brilliant precursor to the GPS based dating apps. I met so many characters through Alex that weekend it was nuts. 
I had recently moved back to New York and thought I was going to have many new Alex adventures and I wanted him to meet my son. Alex was a true light .

As a freshman at NYU, coming from CA, I knew very few people. There was no better landing than Samantha’s Waverly Place apt. Everyday, it seemed, Alex, Samantha, Melanie and I would meet there and time just disappeared. We had chemistry. We quickly became a small NYC family.

Alex knew I was vulnerable and he took me under his wing as did Samantha and Melanie.He gave me love and guidance and through all those years together he deeply shaped who I am. 

That smile! Everyone who got to be on the receiving end of it knows how beautiful it was. I will never forget your smile and your knowing eyes Alex. 

I am so grateful we were able to connect again in the last few years and bring our NYC family back together. I’m so grateful my boys got to meet him and experience his uniqueness! He full on levitated in our pool! I think from past water polo playing. 

He truly was a man with so many talents and I’m sure there are a million things he could do that I’ll never know. 

Thank you Alex for your light, love and laughter. You are in my heart forever

Alex and I met in the late 90’s when he was a freshman at NYU. We instantly became part of the same downtown college crew. We loved hip hop and nineties dance music. We went to outdoor parties together at P.S. 1, hung out at the Soho House and Bowery Bar, ate only Joe’s Pizza, walked around Greenwich Village on hot nights just laughing hysterically. He always made me smile and laugh. 

We ended up working for the same advertising agency for our “first real jobs”. It was fate. He was the IT guy, and I was a database marketing assistant at Young & Rubicam. He was the absolute best coworker to have at a huge advertising agency.  We would meet Samantha on the 6 train during summer lunches and head uptown to a Yankees game. No one at work even noticed. 

He was super creative; we did these great photo shoots together in Soho and Brooklyn for my modeling portfolio. Honestly, Alex is one of the most fun, coolest, smartest, witty friends I’ve ever had. We ended up being close friends until the day he died. 

Recently, he would stop by my house on the way to see his mom in Cambria often. Our college crew ended up in Northern California. Even after years apart, we reconnected on the opposite coast. We are both only children who grew up with creative, intellectual, single mothers. Our lives have so many parallels; it feels like I lost a brother. We would have sleep overs and stay up talking about life.

I trust that Alex had a sharp mind and a strong spirit to make the correct choices. He was a critical thinker. We talked regularly while he was sick, and it seemed that he was mentally strong and calm. His choice was to live the best life possible with the people he loved and who loved him. Sometimes I feel that I should have been more persistent and urgent about sending him to ER. Being a nurse in the hospital for years taught me a lot about death and dying. People have the autonomy and right to make their own choices regarding their health and well being, and sometimes that choice is to do nothing at all. 

Why is it that the most unique, interesting people pass away earlier than most? I miss you so much, Alex, you have no idea. It is an honor to have such a special soul in my life. 

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” -Rumi

Alex invited me to his junior prom, where he wore a full white suit with tails and top hat and tucked a stuffed Clifford the Big Red Dog under one arm (and me under the other). He was one of the most charismatic people. He had his own gravity. He checked in on me all night, and actually for years afterward, and made me feel incredibly special. I'll never forget him. 

We have lost another son...

Alex was a true brother to our Ashley, Jamen,
and Mary...  He was a constant companion and a bright light in our lives.  When Alex was in the house or yard we were all happy and excited.

Our Australian, Sydney loved having Alex over to play and frolic with him.  Only Alex could get away with his fun with Sydney.

We will all miss Alex and forever keep him in our thoughts and prayers...  

He is a beautiful person...

Joh

My son, Tim Haskell, was transferring to Mayfield as a 1st grader, and was very anxious.  When I picked him up that first day, I found my son and this darling little blonde boy rolling on the floor, laughing so hard they were holding their tummies!  It brought tears to my eyes, and Alex became one of my favorite kids!  Although I taught at another school, I was lucky enough to help at Mayfield.  When I got to work with Alex, I always left happier.  Field trips, birthday parties, play dates, I watched Alex grow.  Always so sophisticated -- his Mom Leslie's influence, I'm sure--I couldn't wait to see the person he'd become.  When the boys went to different high schools we lost touch, but I always remembered that sweet little boy who welcomed my baby on his first day of school.  It breaks my heart that this is the way we had to catch up, but happy to know he touched so many lives in his time here on earth.  Prayers for you, Leslie!  Wish we had all had more time with this brilliant young man.

I know I already posted about the loss of Alex Gray, however, I still cannot believe he is gone. I don't want to believe it. You see it that Alex had so much life and brought so much life to everyone around him - how could he not be with us anymore? I just can't grasp the concept.

Alex touched my life in too many ways to ever actually write down or describe. He was that person to me. We met in LA where we both lived and grew up. I was with JNCO Jeans back then and a young wide-leg-wearing baseball-caped Mercedes's-loving with the chains around his neck to prove it came up to me and said "What's going on Mary? I love what you do with JNCO we should hang." Oh and hang we did the adventures I had with my crazy funny as fuck loving snarky smart sidekick (I was actually his sidekick but if you tell any one I will say your lying).

Alex was a funny guy when we were sad he always cheered us up. One day he came to home school us and he told us how email worked and it was fun.

He taught us and asked us questions like how does email work, what does email mean, what does email do... when I get back to New York I’m going to be like where’s Alex because he always came to us...

Alex was a fun, lighthearted soul, who always cheered me up. I remember one time we had a potato. The potato, my mom didn’t want the Potato. So, naturally we did the potatoes makeup. I still have the potato. May Alex Rest In Peace.