Community Corner

Ray McPadden Jr. Was 'One of a Kind'

The 49-year-old Shelton man who died shoveling during the blizzard was the co-owner of Mr. Mac's Canteen in Monroe and Milford.


Raymond F. McPadden Jr., the 49-year-old Shelton man who died shoveling his driveway during the blizzard, was a businessman who believed in giving back to the community.

McPadden was co-owner of Mr. Mac's Canteen, which has two locations — one in Monroe and another in Milford.

In Monroe, McPadden was known for his generosity. When A.J. Rogers, a 19-year-old town firefighter was diagnosed with leukemia, McPadden made a donation, and when police officers held a Cop-On-Top fundraiser for the Special Olympics athletes, Mr. Mac's Canteen grilled free hot dogs and hamburgers for people who came by.

Find out what's happening in Shelton-Derbywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Ray was one of a kind," said Monroe Police Lt. Brian McCauley, whose sons hosted the fundraiser for the firefighter. "He always had a good word for everybody. I will miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Preliminary Investigation

Find out what's happening in Shelton-Derbywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Shelton police said a preliminary investigation revealed McPadden was plowing his private driveway on Darrin Drive when his vehicle became stuck. It appears he suffered a medical event while shoveling out the vehicle, according to a press release.

A neighbor saw McPadden after his wife became alarmed that he had not returned to their home, the release said. Police, Fire and EMS crews responded to a 4 a.m. medical emergency call on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Roadways were nearly impassable at that time. "Getting him to an ambulance was very difficult and EMS had to use a snow mobile and I'm told possibly a sled," Shelton Police Chief Joel Hurliman said.

Share Your Memories

Use the comments below to pay your respects and share your memories about Raymond McPadden Jr.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here