RAYMOND JOSEPH DRACKER

Raymond (Ray) Joseph Dracker March 21, 1955 - June 25, 2010 Ray Dracker passed away in a tragic kayak accident while vacationing in North Carolina on Friday, June 25, 2010. He was 55. Ray was born to Joan and Raymond Dracker in Bethpage, New York, and was the oldest of 8 children. Largely putting himself through college, Ray received his double undergraduate degrees from University of New York Oneonta and University of Buffalo in Physics and Engineering. In his pursuit of his advanced degree and a warmer climate, he attended the University of Arizona where he graduated with a masters degree in Nuclear Engineering. But Ray's professional focus and passion had always been in the development and promotion of advanced renewable energy. Ray began his career at PG&E where he worked for 13 years followed by 5 years at Bechtel in the areas of advanced fossil technology, solar technology and other advanced energy systems. Beginning in 1998, Ray worked for 3 years for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado as the Director of Operations and Technology Transfer which included managing the laboratory's intellectual property. After this, Ray worked for the next 5 years for the Center for Resource Solutions as their Technical Director and was responsible for implementing a series of projects and programs to assess renewable energy power options for western states. For the last 3 years, Ray worked for Solar Millennium LLC as Senior Vice President of Project Development where he was responsible for the engineering and development of solar energy power plants. While he died before seeing their 4 developed power plants completed, he was the originator of their design, responsible for their site selection, permitting, licensing, financial development and development engineering. Ray's entire life was about passion, love, caring and boundless energy for the people and things he thought were important and that he loved. He had an incredibly curious mind and a vast interest in many different areas. His thirst to plan and lead adventures for his friends and family was never ending as he organized hikes to the top of Mt. Whitney, Half Dome in Yosemite, down and back up the Grand Canyon in one day, kayaking from Marin to AT&T park for a Giants game, and numerous other hiking, skiing and biking adventures. He loved to entertain and cook and it was not unusual for him to prepare a gourmet meal for a large group of friends after a long day of hiking, or a New Year's Eve sit down dinner at his home for 30 people. Nothing was more important to Ray than the people in his world. He was devoted to his wife and 3 children, his family, his friends, the people he worked with and the community of Marin. He was his son's little league baseball coach and the ultimate soccer dad for his 3 children whom he adored. He was the team tournament coordinator for 2 of the teams, a regular chaperone and was so very proud watching his children play. Everything about Ray was done on a grand scale - his purchases at Costco, his home projects, his love of sports and the Yankees, the hours he worked and played for all that he loved. For Ray, there was no task too hard to tackle, no problem too difficult to solve, no conversation that he didn't want to engage in, no point of view that he hesitated to share, no issue too small to debate, no person he wouldn't help. And with all of his accomplishments, all of his abilities and all of his intelligence, he was a humble, genuine man with the ability to make people laugh and enjoy life. Ray is survived by his adoring wife Peggy of 28 years, his 3 beautiful children, Matthew, Alexis and Sophia, his 5 sisters, Susan Bestany, Virginia Trupia, Joanne Remsbecker, Anne Marie Pumo, Lisa Danz and his brother, Steven Dracker and many nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial service: 11:00 am, Saturday, July 3. St. Raphael's Church, 1104 5th Ave, San Rafael. Reception to follow at the Elk's Lodge, 1312 Mission Ave, San Rafael. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to a college fund that has been established for the 3 children. Donations can be mailed to Wells Fargo Bank, 1203 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 for the benefit of the Dracker Family, account 8073464771.