Raymond Samuel Deutsch passed away at the age of 72 on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Ray, to all who knew him, was born in San Jose, CA but lived in Santa Maria since 1976. An architect with a passion for community development, Ray worked tirelessly to help make Santa Maria an attractive place for residents and businesses pursing his collaborative approach always with a smile and sparkle in his eye.
Hall-Hurley-Deutsch Architects, his firm with his partners, was a Main Street icon with projects gracing the central coast. Later he became the Senior Architect and Community Relations Director at Westberg + White Architects and Planners. His numerous community activities, for which he received accolades and awards included: co-founder and a board member of the Economic Alliance of Northern Santa Barbara County (EconNSBC), president of the Central Coast Development Corporation, member of the California Defense Conversion Council, chair of the Santa Maria Valley Economic Development Association, vice president and board member of the Santa Barbara Technology and Industry Association, member of the Santa Barbara Board of Architectural Review, board member of the California Space Authority, founding board chair of the California Space and Technology Alliance (CSTA), and prime mover of the Central Coast Regional Technology Alliance (CORTA).
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Becky Jo Deutsch; four children, Mark, Heather, Heidi and Meira (Gretchen); three grandchildren, Rachel, Stevie and Adelaide; and two older brothers, Arlan and David. A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 3PM at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, 1003 East Stowell Road, Santa Maria. The service will be followed by a reception at the Santa Maria Inn.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the PCPA Foundation (PO Box 6803, Santa Maria, CA 93456) or the EconNSBC, (PO Box 6803, Santa Maria, CA 93456) in his memory.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.
