Ray Bourque
Any sports fan knows that Ray Bourque is on the short list when you're talking about the best athletes in Boston history, or in hockey history. But Ray Bourque the man may be even more impressive.

"Beyond his abilities on the ice, Bourque had skills as a person," Boston Herald columnist Karen Guregian once wrote. "They can be summed up in a word - class."

Herald columnist Gerry Callahan called him "the most humble, deferential 18-time All-Star in sports history." And Bourque's humility shows through in his unending string of charitable pursuits, which prompted colleague Cleon Daskalakis to state that "he deeply cares about people, and he's always trying to come up with ways to help more."

Among Bourque's annual charity events are a celebrity hockey game, softball game, and golf tournament, to name a few. Bourque also runs his own website, where he honors a hockey hero of the month, often a young hockey player who has done something special. In February, the recipient was a local 9-year-old diabetic hockey player who annually holds an even called "Skate for a Cure" to raise money for diabetes research.

Bourque also showed his dedication to the Boston community after the biggest moment of his career - when he finally won the Stanley Cup in his 21st and final season National Hockey League. Though he won the championship with the Colorado Avalanche, he brought the Cup back to Boston, where he played for nearly 20 seasons, to share with his loyal fans in a rally at City Hall Plaza. Bourque's city ties also extend to the North End, where he owns an Italian restaurant called Tresca.

Of course, Bourque's on-ice career is among the very best in history. He has most assists for a defenseman in NHL history. He won the Norris Trophy as the league's best blueliner five times. Over his lengthy career, Bourque was remarkably durable and consistent, playing in at least 60 games and scoring at least 48 points in every season but one.

At his heart, the 46-year-old Montreal native is a family man. He still lives on Boston's North Shore with his wife, Christiane. Their daughter, Melissa, was standout lacrosse player, and his two sons, Chris and Ryan, both follow in their father's footsteps as top-tier hockey players.