Alan Raby

Alan Patrick Raby passed away at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek on 04 September 2024 after a short but fierce battle with stage 4 gastric cancer. Alan was born to Donald and Geraldine (née Galati) Raby in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on 15 July 1964. The second of three children, Alan lived across Canada, Germany, and the United States. From 1974 to 1980, Al lived in Lahr, Germany where he attended both Georges Vanier and Lahr Senior School; he was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons Army Cadets. After moving back to Cananda, he accompanied his family to Faro, Yukon where he graduated in 1982 from Del Van Gorder High School.
Leaving the wilderness of the Yukon, Al travelled to the big city of Toronto where he attended the University of Toronto and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986. He then chose to follow in his father's footsteps and joined the Canadian Army. As an officer in the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry, Alan deployed on a peacekeeping mission to Cyprus. While he was serving on Vancouver Island he met and married Shoko Tsuji. Moving to Toronto, Alan was employed within the G1 (Personnel Section) of the Land Forces Central Area. It was during his time that his son Michael was born in 1992. While in Toronto, Al studied for and obtained the Chartered Management Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant designations.
After ten years in the infantry, Alan retired to pursue a new life in the civilian sector. In the year 2000, he moved his family from Canada to Walnut Creek, California. A serial entrepreneur, he worked over twenty years in the global technology sector and was previously a general manager at SONY where he was responsible for bringing SONY Felica technology, EDY e-money, and Osaifu-Keitai from Japan to the US. He was a pioneer in FinTech and launched the first nationwide mobile banking application in the US in 2001. He was also employed with AIG and Wells Fargo. In November 2021, he founded Caremates, a forward-looking company that provides curated services to older adults. Alan is also BOD of the Excite Credit Union.
Eternally optimistic and energetic, Al readily gave his time as a mentor to up-and-coming professionals, and never forgetting his military background, he was also a mentor with American Corporate Partners in Helping Members of the US Armed Forces & Their Spouses.
During his spare time, there was nothing more he loved than hitting the trails on Mount Diablo or the Marin Headlands. He was an avid trail, mountain, and ultra trail runner. A compassionate and kind man, Al will always be remembered for his infectious laughter, his positivity, and his warrior spirit.
Al is survived by his loving wife, Shoko, his son, Michael, and his two sisters, Susan and Cathy. A source of strength, love, and wisdom, Al's passing leaves a profound void. The world is a colder, smaller place without him at our sides.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.