Raymond G. Handley

Raymond G. Handley obituary

Raymond G. Handley

Raymond Handley Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Jun. 18 to Jun. 19, 2009.
Raymond G. Handley Silicon Valley Pioneer Raymond G. Handley of Los Altos Hills, CA died peacefully at home with his loving family at his side on June 14, 2009. Born in Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana on June 2, 1923, raised in Georgetown, British Guiana until he came to the United States at sixteen to attend school at the University of Maryland. In 1947, Ray Handley moved to California. He became partners with Ray Renault, an established San Francisco real estate broker, and in 1952 they founded Renault & Handley Industrial and Commercial Real Estate in the Silicon Valley. Renault & Handley developed the first buildings for such high-tech pioneers as Intel, Fairchild, National Semiconductor and Raytheon. After the death of Ray Renault in 1965, Renault & Handley became a sole proprietorship and successfully continues today as the oldest industrial real estate brokerage in the Santa Clara Valley. Always ahead of his time, Ray Handley developed the first solar powered building in Silicon Valley in the mid 1970's. After his brother, William Jules Handley, became the US Ambassador to Mali, Africa in 1962, Raymond became interested in the country and wanted to make a difference in the lives of its people, drilling more than 50 water wells for Dogon villages through 300 feet of granite during the 1980's. A vibrant, adventurous and highly successful developer of Silicon Valley, Raymond became a keen collector of art and traveled extensively. His journeys took him from the highest mountains of Tibet to the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea and Africa. In the mid 1970's his passion lead him to establish Folk Art International/Xanadu Tribal Arts, an ethnographic art business, which allowed him to travel the world purchasing art and antiques for his galleries and established a non-profit educational foundation which currently supplies over 50,000 Northern California school children with ethnic study programs and materials. His love for real estate and art led him to purchase the only Frank Lloyd Wright building in San Francisco, the prototype for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, for his art business in the late 1990's. Xanadu Gallery now specializes in fine quality antiquities from Asia and the Himalayas as well as some ethnographic works of art. He has been a generous donor to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. In 1957 Raymond built and opened Dinah's Garden Hotel in Palo Alto, CA adding a Trader Vic's Restaurant in 2001. He is also the owner of Handley Cellars, an award winning winery, in Mendocino County near Philo, CA with his winemaker daughter, Milla Handley. Raymond Handley is survived by his wife, Marsha Vargas Handley; his daughters Julia Handley (Honolulu/Menlo Park) and Milla Handley (Philo, CA); granddaughters Megan Handley Warren and Milla Louisa McClellen; predeceased by his wife of over 50 years, Milla Louise Hart Handley; and his brother, William Jules Handley. Services on Friday, June 19th, 2009, 1:00 pm at Spangler Mortuaries, Los Altos, CA. 650-948-6619.

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Sign Raymond Handley's Guest Book

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June 27, 2009

Mark Homnack posted to the memorial.

June 27, 2009

Anni Paulekas posted to the memorial.

June 23, 2009

Someone posted to the memorial.

Mark Homnack

June 27, 2009

Mr. Handley was my company's landlord for about ten years until 2002, at 2606 E. Bayshore in Mountain View, CA.

As with most landlords I interacted with him infrequently, but he made memorable impressions on me.

A few of my memories include the following:

1. Walking with me around a property, he saw a cigarette butt and, although he was near 80 and obviously wealthy enough to let someone else handle it, he picked it up.

2. I was amazed by his energy for work and passion for life. For example, I once visited him at Dinah's Garden Hotel and toured a few of his wonderful suites with him, such as the room whose walls were covered by slate, or the room that had the model railroad going around the ceiling. I had never seen anything as innovative in a hotel.

So, to me, I remember him as a man who lived a very full life, who extended himself into eclectic fields, and who was not too proud or powerful to do something small, like spend time with a tenant.

My feelings go out to his surviving family and friends.

Mark Homnack, CEO, SimulTrans

Anni Paulekas

June 27, 2009

Dear Julie and Milla,
I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. He was, in a sense a father figure for me also. He always moved forwards! He was a huge influence on all of us. Your whole family is an important part of my heart and soul.
Thank you Raymond for being part of my life. May you be eternally happy.
Love,
Anni and Margaret

June 23, 2009

My deepest condolences to Marsha and her family.
A great man and such an entrepreneur and adventurer.
I'm so sorry for you lost.
With my heartfelt thoughs.
Anne de Brouwer

June 20, 2009

Dear Handley Family,

My deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of this great man who made a difference in many people's lives through his generosity and kindeness. His love of art and culture was apparent in all that he was involved in and the passion he felt for the associates who worked for him at R&H and Dinah's was quite remarkable and will not be forgotten.

Thank you and cheers Mr. Handley!
Mark Hyde

Dinah's Garden Hotel - 50th Anniversary Celebration

June 20, 2009

Dinah's Garden Hotel - 50th Anniversary Celebration

June 20, 2009

Dinah's Garden Hotel 5- 0th Anniversary Celebration

June 20, 2009

John & Dana Phillips

June 19, 2009

Our deepest condolences to Marsha and the Handley family. Thou we never met Raymond we new him through the marriage to Aunt Marsha. We always heard such great things about Raymond and wish to send our heartfelt thoughts to the whole family in this time of loss.

Denise Weinert

June 19, 2009

Dear Julie, Milla, Megan, and Lulu,

I just saw the paper this afternoon and read about the passing of Mr. H.
I am so sorry for your loss.
But I do believe he is back together with Mrs. H where he rightfully belongs.
As a former Folk Art employee, I will always remember fondly the memories of both Mr. and Mrs. H. they were both very kind and good to me as an employee and I won't forget that.
They were great patrons of the arts and a significant contributor and advocacy for the development of the educational foundation.
I know they both are sorely missed and I will keep you and your families in my prayers and thoughts.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Ghandi

I truly believe that quote encompasses both Mr. and Mrs. H -- a dynamic team. I will miss them both!

Take care. God's Speed.

Jan and Jerry Riley

June 19, 2009

Dearest Milla, Lulu and Megan.

Our thoughts are ever with you. Ray will be missed, but remembered so very much. Hugs.

Sandi and Rod Erickson

June 19, 2009

Dear Milla, Megan and Lulu,

We send our condolences for the loss of your father/grandfather. He had a long, productive life and leaves you with a wonderful legacy. He will live in your memories for the rest of your lives. We remember him as a gracious, intelligent gentleman.

Jan and Ken Blaedel

June 19, 2009

Dear Milla, Lulu and Megan,
We are so sorry for your loss but what a life! You have so much to remember him for and he will be a part of your lives forever.

June 18, 2009

When I was a little girl I remember Ray giving me minature shakers of Leslie's Salt to
sprinkle on gigantic beefsteak tomatos I had picked from his garden. Ray always had a way of making the ordinary, extradordinary. I will always have fond memories of all the Handley's. Love from, Kasey Hansen( Warren and Maurine Houck's daughter)

Ellen Eason

June 18, 2009

My thoughts and condolences are with Marsha, Milla and Julie as you pay tribute to Mr. Handley's incredible life. I feel fortunate to have worked with the managers of Dinah's Garden Hotel and Trader Vic's as they carried forth his vision.

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Sign Raymond Handley's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

June 27, 2009

Mark Homnack posted to the memorial.

June 27, 2009

Anni Paulekas posted to the memorial.

June 23, 2009

Someone posted to the memorial.