Earlier this month, the world lost a man who in the Armed Forces gave his, but gave even more as a man of the community. 

Ray was born April 25, 1948 to father Raymond and his loving mother Helen who raised Ray and his 3 brothers Dan, Richard and Anthony, and 3 sisters Victoria, Joanne and Mona in Los Angeles. Ray met his wife Annabel at Belmont High School where he served on Student Council and played football making 2nd team for the northern LA Region as a Senior in December 1965; Ray went to California State University in Los Angeles from 1970 to 1975.

Ray was married to Annabel for thirty-three years until her untimely death June 24, 2002 from Leukemia. Ray and Annabel's marriage was blessed their son Vincent in 1991.

Ray ran a very successful landscape company Greenskeeper Company and helped his brother Anthony with his career running ESV Group, Inc.

Ray worked for LA County METRO as a Public Affairs Officer in the mid 1990s.

Ray and Annabel moved to Cambridge Massachusetts and Ray was proud to work for the New England Patriots handling public relations for the Hispanic community.

Ray had long term consulting relationships with So California Gas, LA County Department of Public Works, Rancho Santiago Community College District and many others.

Ray was a proud veteran of the Marine Corps and served as a Board member of the Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

Ray founded Verches Associates to provide Media Relations, Strategic Communications, Crisis Communications, Strategic Planning, Marketing Strategy, Public Affairs, Marketing Communications, Community Development, Research, Policy Analysis, Corporate Communications and Project Management to corporations, non-profits, public sector clients and entrepreneurial enterprises.

Ray helped many elected officials and prospective elected officials with campaigns especially Loretta Sanchez, Linda Sanchez, Gil Cedillo, and OC Latinos for Obama.

Ray served on many boards including, but not limited to the Hispanic Education Endowment Find, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and the United Latinx Fund.

Ray lent his talents to diverse endeavors such as the Plaza Community Services (PCS) educational and exhibition uses at the historic Casa de Adobe.

Above all his work, hobbies and activities he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his son Vin, especially when Vin was in high school and he helped with Vin's football team at Foothill High School.