Honorable Raymond Joseph Arata Jr.

1936 - 2024

Honorable Raymond Joseph Arata Jr.
02/21/1936 - 12/10/2024
Judge Raymond Joseph Arata Junior, a 4th generation native San Franciscan, died on December 10, 2024, at St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old.
Ray Jr. was born on February 21, 1936, in San Francisco, the first of three children of the Honorable Raymond J. Arata and Marie Elizabeth Ahlbach. Ray Jr. is survived by his wife, Elaine Greco; and his sister, Ellen Marie Holden; his children, Raymond J. Arata, III,(Anna) James David Arata, Sandy Gandolfo (Joey); and his grandchildren, Emma Arata, Aidan Arata, Jeanmarie Arata, Alisa Arata, Enzo Arata, Gino Gandolfo, William Arata, Julia Gandolfo, James Arata, and Elena Gandolfo; as well as many adored nieces and nephews. Ray Jr. was predeceased by his sister, Jeanne Cecilia Biernat.
Roman Catholicism guided Ray throughout his life. He attended St. Emydius Grammar school and Archbishop Riordan High School, class of 1953, Riordan's first full 4-year graduating class. Ray Jr. was on the Board of Directors of Riordan High School and was inducted into the Riordan Hall of Fame for his exemplary efforts as quarterback for the football team.
After Riordan, Ray Jr. attended City College of San Francisco, where he also started as quarterback of the football team. After obtaining an AA degree, he transferred to the University of California at Berkeley, where he was a quarterback on the football team behind Joe Kapp. He graduated in 1957, a member of Phi Kappa Psi.
Following in his father's footsteps, Ray Jr. was called to the law and attended The University of California, Hastings School of Law, class of 1960, and was admitted to the State Bar of California in the same year.
Ray began his legal career with Sedwick, Detert, Moran, & Arnold, and later joined the firm of Boccardo and Blum. While a young lawyer in private practice, Ray Jr. volunteered for the JAG Corps of the US Army Reserve in 1960 and, in the same year, married the love of his life, Elaine Greco. Ray and Elaine enjoyed 63 years of marriage. Ray often said the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting and marrying Elaine. He also told family members that a big factor was Elaine's mother, Emma, and her amazing raviolis that cinched the deal!
On December 18, 1974, Governor Ronald Reagan appointed Raymond to the Municipal Court of San Francisco. He was elected to the Superior Court of San Francisco in 1980. Ray Jr. was an active member of the court for 25 years (one more year than his father had been a judge), and then served for another 17 years as judge pro tem.
Ray Jr. was a member of the Olympic club for 70 years, where he enjoyed handball, golf and tennis, and a 60 year member of the Italian American Social Club, where he routinely sat for "pranzo" dinner, hosting his sons and grandsons and friends. Anyone who came in contact with Ray was touched by his generosity and spirit.
Ray spent many years in service to the Janet Pomeroy Center, along with his wife, Elaine, who founded the Women's Auxiliary.
Ray Junior was a great son, brother, father, and grandfather. Together, Ray Jr. and his father Ray Sr. (a "Son of the Shake") sat on the San Francisco Superior Court for fifty years, one third of the history of San Francisco, and were pillars of the city, touching thousands of lives and enriching the city they both loved.
Services will be held at St. Stephen Church, 451 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 11am. A Celebration of Life will be held following the church service. Family would appreciate an RSVP to Ray Arata at ray@bettermanconference.com, or call 415-516-2202.
Please consider a donation in his name to the Pomeroy Center, Riordan High School, or the OC Foundation.