The PIA Western Alliance Says Goodbye to Father Ray

Most of you didn’t know Ray Peretti.

Gary Wolcott is the Weekly Industry News editor. He got to know Ray in the early days of the formation of the PIA Western Alliance. Wolcott is writing this story.

“How do you describe what can’t be described or defined?” Wolcott said. “He was Ray and, if you knew him, a definition wasn’t needed. His smile said it all.”

And it was Ray’s smile that drew people to him in droves. He stood tall and straight and had a smile that not only lit up a room, but it seemed to cover an entire room. And if Ray was in a room, the room just seemed to move to him.

It’s why former PIA Western Alliance Executive Vice President Clark Sitzes nicknamed Ray Peretti, “Father Ray.” He had a priest-like countenance, and a zen-like voice that seemed to sooth and comfort those drawn to him.

Clark Sitzes said he drew people like a magnet draws metal.

“Ray Peretti was a very genuine person. He always greeted you with a huge smile and a friendly face,” Sitzes said. “Wherever you went with Ray, you would see people naturally gravitated to him.”

From a PIA perspective, Ray is hugely responsible for the success of the PIA Western Alliance.

“From a historic point of view, Ray’s fingerprints are all over the history of PIA. If we needed a volunteer to serve on a committee, or testify at the state capital, Ray was there. He is largely responsible for shaping the PIA and making it the association it is today. Rays involvement in all things PIA him led me to give him the honorary title of ‘Father Ray.’”

Sadly, Ray passed away on December 3rd and the world lost one of its all-time greatest smiles, and one of its all-time greatest people.

“Ray put the ‘V’ in the word volunteerism” Sitzes said. “He was passionate about the PIA and its mission statement to serve independent insurance agents. Ray served as the president of the PIA of Washington/Alaska. He was also the president of the PIA Western Alliance and eventually took the helm as president of PIA National.”

Clark Sitzes said his biggest contribution to you — the membership of the PIA Western Alliance — is his vision. “Ray was instrumental in the formation of the PIA Western Alliance, a now 10 state alliance forming the largest regional agent trade association in the United States,” Sitzes said. “

Ray’s wife, Lynn told Weekly Industry News that Ray was about volunteering and reminded us of one of his favorite quotes, “Volunteering is the price we pay for being here.”

That was Ray Peretti in a nutshell.

“Between Renton’s Lions club and the community, and the PIA, he was always volunteering,” Lynn Peretti said. “Ray was always a volunteer. He was a member of the Renton Lions club for 64 years and was a past president and was continually volunteering.”

Kathy Fraley is a former president of PIA Washington and a close friend of Ray and Lynn.

“Ray was Mr. PIA and Mr. CIC. He believed in the association and how important to stay connected to each other,” she said. “Ray also believed in continuing education. Our industry has always been changing and agents need to stay on top of the changes. Ray knew that more than anyone. It’s why he worked so hard to form the Western Alliance.”

Like all who knew him, Fraley defined Ray as one of a kind.

“To say he was a great man is really an understatement,” she said. “He treated everyone with respect and kindness. Ray was the best person to all. He always had a smile on his face. Like everyone else who knew him, I’ll miss him.”

Lynn Peretti said Ray was also passionate about history.

“He was a historian for the PIA, for the Fire Mark Society and the Renton Lions club,” she said. “That man knew how to write and to keep the history of the groups he loved alive.”

Plus, she said, “Everybody loved him. He was my love.”

It’s one of the first things people noticed about Ray. His love for his wife Lynn is legendary. Former PIA Washington/Alaska president and PIA Western Alliance president, Heidi Duncan described their relationship best.

“I am absolutely heartbroken for Lynn,” she said. “Their love was where fairytales come from.”

Back to history. Ray Peretti graduated from the University of Washington and entered the agency business in1967. Later he bought the agency from his father and uncle.

Ray was the PIA Washington/Alaska president from 1993 to 1994.

He was the PIA Washington/Alaska agent of the year in 1995.

Ray served as a PIA National director from 1996 to 2007.

He served as PIA National’s president from 2005 to 2006.

Ray helped bring the CIC to Washington and was part of Washington’s first CIC class.

He received his CIC designation in 1980.

Ray was a charter member of Washington’s Fire Mark Society in1980.

He served as a Fire Mark Society national director from 1983 to 1985.

Ray served as the Fire Mark Society president from 1982 to 1984 and again in 2001.

He was president of the IIABKC in 1987.

Ray was a life member of CPIA.

He was on the national producer council for The Hartford from 1983 to 1985 and again from 1988 to 1990.

Ray also was a member of the Renton Lions Club for 64 years and served as its president.

His hobbies? Wine, food and travel.

Lynn Peretti best summed up his contribution to the PIA and to you, the reader, many of whom, sadly, didn’t get to know him.

“The PIA is a volunteer association,” she said. “He gave a lot of his time, and his life for this association, and other associations that he loved. Volunteering is time, and time is very precious.”

As you can see from the results produced daily for the independent agents of the 10 states of the PIA Western Alliance, the precious time Ray Peretti gave to you created something very important to the future of the independent insurance agency system.

It gave you a bright, positive future.

“I had many great times working for the PIA and it was Ray Peretti who made those times very special,” Clark Sitzes said. “Ray was a wonderful human being. I will miss him.”

As will we all.

Lynn Peretti is requesting that you send donations to the Renton Lyons Club instead of flowers. She plans on a memorial service sometime in the summer of next year.