California Surveyors Forums

Apparently Rich Ray has passed.

May he RIP.

Very sad, surprising news. Rich was not only my mentor, he had a knack for popping up in my life for decades of shared work experiences. A positive, enthusiastic, happy guy who looked after his friends. He will be missed.

I heard the same from two different sources, both of which worked with him at Orange County years ago. Always a jovial guy who seemed to enjoy life. RIP, Rich.

My experience with Richard Pierre Ray is similar to that of Lee Hixon’s described above.

I met Rich in 1989.

We taught classes together at Santa Ana College for six years. The first two years required us to teach 18 Saturdays a semester, 36 Saturdays a year. We spent 36 Saturdays a year together. The balance of the years was every other Saturday. Rich was a very dedicated and prepared instructor. He was incredibility committed to the students. His first year he rewrote the entire curriculum and continued to work on it throughout his tenure.

Long before email, I remember many times sitting around an outdoor picnic table in his backyard stuffing CLSA envelopes with newsletters and membership information.

As a young man, I remember having several dinners with his family when both of his kids were still in highchairs. When he moved to Northern California and I was in town, he always insisted I stayed at his house. He was a generous friend, always welcoming.

We always had periods in which we worked closely together, as a subconsultant while he was at Griener, my supervisor at the County of Orange, an employee at D. Woolley (together with his wife, son and daughter), D. Woolley as his subconsultant when he was a City Surveyor.

I spoke with him within the last month or so.

A lot of life happened in the 34 years we were friends. We had our ins and outs, but always found our way back. I am grateful for the many good memories we shared. I will miss the Biggers House.

DWoolley

TTaylor wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:24 pm Apparently Rich Ray has passed.

May he RIP.

OMG, so sad. He was a dear friend :(

That's terrible news. Not much older than many of us posting here, and not retired very long either. It's just not a fair situation when one can't enjoy at least half as many years of retirement as had comprised one's working life.

Lee's description of Rich was spot on. Always a pleasure to be around.

Oh, and let me add "energetic" and "multitasker" to the list of Rich's personality traits.

One day in San Jose I was following Rich through heavy traffic to a restaurant for lunch. We pulled up to a left turn slot--me right behind him--at a busy intersection and, while waiting for a green light, he suddenly popped out of his car and started jogging back towards me. In one hand was a phone held to his head talking with someone. And in the other a music CD that he handed me through the window, excitedly telling me to "listen to this great song."

He made it back, just in time for the green light. Can't remember the song but I'll always remember that view of him running towards me, talking to someone and waving his hand excitedly. Pure Rich!

Does anyone know what happened to Rich?

It was just Halloween when I saw a post of him out enjoying life.

Heart attack on November 13.

DWoolley