Ray Abella Peralta

Ray Abella Peralta was born in a rice farming barangay in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, Philippines on July 16, 1938 to Damaso and Genoveva Peralta. His father passed away while his mother was pregnant with him. He had two older sisters, Gregoria and Alberta. His mother remarried to Bernabe Paeste and gave birth to three more girls: Lilia, Jovita, and Nathalie. As the only boy in the family, he was responsible for helping his mother and sisters by working on the farms with his grandfather. His mother and grandparents taught him the value of education and trained him to be hardworking, diligent, friendly, honest and compassionate. These traits he internalized as he entered high school at the late age of 22.

Ray finished the Secondary Agriculture Curriculum in Central Luzon Agricultural College in Munoz, Nueva Ecija in 1964 as 5th Honorable Mention in a class of 170 students. For his outstanding performances during his student farmer years, he received the most coveted “Farmer of the Year” award.

In 1968, Ray graduated from Central Luzon State University with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Soil Science and a minor in Agricultural Economics. He passed the Agronomist Examination in 1967 while he was a 3rd year college student and the Career Service Sub-Professional Examination in 1968 given by the Philippine Civil Service Commission.

Ray married Carmelita Hermitanio of Alicia, Isabela, in May 1971, whom he met when he was employed as an Agronomist at the National Irrigation Administration in her hometown. In his desire to grow professionally and hopefully to find a better future for his family, he migrated to the United States of America in May 1972 through the Professional Visa System. Carmen followed him to the US in December 1972, pregnant with their first child, Careyna. In 1978, Dean was born.

Ray worked at the Rossi Nursery as an Ornamental Plant Propagator, at Stanford University Medical Research Center and the University of California Medical Research Center as an animal technician. At Ampex Corporation, he worked his way up from Laboratory Assistance to Supervisor in the Research Department, Magnetic Tapes Division. He left Ampex to work at Dysan Corporation and then Xidex Corporation as a Senior Process Engineer, where he was one of the first 10 employees. He was a consultant for Fortune Technology, traveling throughout the United States and China.

With the work experiences he gained, Ray tried his luck in the real estate business, eventually establishing his own real estate company, RP Brokers, in 1999.

Even during his early years in the United States, Ray always dreamed of coming back to his Alma Mater. When his financial conditions improved, he was able to take a leave from work to attend the Alumni Homecoming and participate in its various undertakings, especially in fostering cordial relations among the graduates and in showcasing their achievements. The homecoming afforded him rare opportunities to meet friends and classmates, sharing and exchanging experiences with them. He became an officer and founding member of the CLSU International Alumni Group of California. In 1989, he was a founding member and elected President of the Fil-Am Aggies Association, USA.

As the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Ray granted scholarships to needy and deserving undergraduate agriculture students in various colleges and universities in the Philippines. In addition, he provided yearly scholarship grants from his own personal funds to help undergraduate students in the agriculture and veterinary science fields at Central Luzon State University as a gesture of his desire to help others grow professionally and to reciprocate as others have aided him during his student days.

In his retired life, Ray worked as a Tax Preparer. He also enjoyed playing poker, traveling, growing many fruits and vegetables in his garden, tending to his orchids, cheering for the 49ers, Giants and Warriors, and spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandkids.

Ray is survived by his wife, Carmelita; his children, Careyna (Glenn) and Dean (Sarah); and his grandchildren, CJ, Madden, Alex and Teagan.

From the family of Ray:

We were heartbroken when we learned of his cancer diagnosis in early 2022. He fought hard, right until his last days. His never-ending wish was to spend as much time with his family, most especially with his grandkids. We are grateful that we spent many precious moments with him, which we will hold forever in our hearts.

We would like to thank Dr. Hoa Le, Ray’s oncologist, as well as the many doctors and nurses at Kaiser Hospital Santa Clara, Kaiser Home Health, and Kaiser Hospice for their constant and persistent care and support.

We are also thankful to many family and friends who supported and encouraged him with uplifting cards, phone calls and visits.