If you’ve visited Santa Clara’s renowned Veterans Memorial, the Ray Gamma dog park, or enjoyed the Walter E. Schmidt Youth Activity Center (YAC), you benefited from the work of one of Santa Clara’s most public-minded citizens: Ray Gamma.
He was a founder of the committee that built the Veterans Memorial, and, as a Parks and Recreation commissioner, led development of the Ray Gamma dog park, the city’s first. He was an early member of the YAC forerunner, the Wutzit Club, and until his death, led the Wutzit Club Alumni.
Ray died on Jan. 4, 2026, just before his 96th birthday, after a long decline following a fall.
Ray grew up in Santa Clara’s Old Quad, the son of Portuguese immigrants. After serving in the Korean War in 1953, Ray got his first firefighter job in the Santa Clara Fire Department. He subsequently served in several local fire departments, including San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Fremont and Daly City.
Ray retired from Daly City in 1985, after a heart attack, but was soon back to work when Stanford University offered him a part time job in its fire department. He later became Stanford’s fire chief until he retired in 1995.
That was when Ray jumped into city concerns, joining Parks & Rec at the suggestion of then-Council Member Patricia Mahan. There, he made the Veterans Memorial a reality, and later the dog park. When disputes over turf versus grass stalled the dog park opening, Ray settled them by donating money for turf.
After moving to Morgan Hill to be near relatives, his niece Carole Szilasie realized Ray was homesick.
“He talked about Santa Clara all the time,” she said. “We told him he should move back.”
Following that conversation, he did just that.
“He wanted to be involved,” said Szilasie. “He was interested and concerned about everything. That was his love — the city and the people in it. There wasn’t anyone Uncle Ray didn’t like.”
Restoring Santa Clara’s downtown was Ray’s last project, joining Reclaiming Our Downtown, the group spearheading that effort. Until becoming too frail to travel, Ray could be found every Tuesday at Sara’s Kitchen for the group’s coffee chats.
“He told stories about his experiences, the history of the downtown. Ray was an encyclopedia about the city,” said friend Mary Grizzle. “He was a very good person to have as a member. He was a mentor. So many looked forward to him being there.”
“In my eyes, my father was Mr. Santa Clara,” said Ray’s son Craig Gamma.
“He was born on the corner of Monroe and Civic Center Dr,” he continued. “Mom lived a few houses down from his family. He was very dedicated to family and his hometown. Dad, being Dad, always had to do more. He made an impact wherever he went.”
Civic-minded to the last, Ray spoke at the last council priority-setting meeting, saying, “Our downtown needs to come back, get the ball rolling!”
Ray was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Gerri Gamma. He’s survived by his sons Craig Gamma of Santa Maria and Richard Gamma of Santa Cruz; granddaughters Tiffany, Brianna and Haley; great granddaughter Cora; nieces and nephews Carole Ann and Bob Szilasie of Gilroy, Dan and Suzie Gamma of Los Gatos, Melody Summers of Santa Cruz, Dennis Gamma of Santa Clara, Gerri Miller of Santa Rosa.
There will be a memorial service on Feb. 1, 2026, 2-6 p.m., at American Legion Post 419, 958 Homestead Road in Santa Clara.
More about Ray Gamma:
Ray Gamma: A Life Spanning Valley of the Hearts Delight to Silicon Valley
