Del Raby

Through the years, Del Raby has demonstrated an inspiring commitment to the Boy Scouts of America, which celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year, and Rotary International, a business service organization which currently spans 200 countries and promotes “Service Above Self.” Del joined the Boy Scouts as soon as he was old enough, knew he wanted to be a Boy Scout executive by age 16, served a 31 year career with the organization, and has remained an active advocate for Scouting since his retirement in 1981. On May 16, Del will be presenting an Eagle Scout badge to the grandson of a man Del presented the same badge to at age 16. The boy’s great grandfather was also an Eagle Scout; one family’s tradition Del is honored to be a part of.

Demonstrating a similar commitment to Rotary, Del has been an active member of Rotary International for 40 years. He holds an impressive 100% attendance record, served as District Governor, and has been an active member of the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club since its founding in 1987.

Now 83, Del was born in Grass Valley, CA and grew up in Chico. His parents both worked for the Salvation Army, holding weekly services in halls and preaching on street corners during the 1920s and 30s. He was married to two very talented women: Mary, a vocalist he met through scouting at age 20 who died in 1970, and Harriet, an artist he met through both Rotary and Scouting who died in 1998. He has no children.

“Scrounging” with his father for Indian artifacts, followed by the pursuit of old bottles in dumps was one of Del’s fondest memories growing up. He credits his father and these experiences with planting the seeds for his post-retirement interest in archaeology and his proudest accomplishment: While at his first “dig” in Chile’s Patagonia, Del noticed a nearby boarding school had no hot water or showers and limited cooking supplies, so he approached the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary board of directors with what became the club’s first international project: bringing these services to the school in Patagonia.

The single world event which has left the most lasting impression on Del was World War II. He tried to enlist in 1944 and was initially turned down but was then drafted in February, 1945. Del was training in Okinawa, Japan during the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He recognizes and appreciates the fact that the course of his life may have been quite different if his wartime experience had been different.

Many people ponder the question “If you could live life over again, what would you do differently? Del would have “pushed” himself more within both Boy Scouts and Rotary to realize his goals. He wouldn’t want to be overly aggressive, but in retrospect sees missed opportunities to become more visible within each organization.

Del’s advice for today’s youth is to stay away from drugs, graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and plan your life around a career. He also strongly supports scouting because it builds character and leadership skills.

As for his secret to staying healthy and vibrant, Del credits the fact that he never smoked and is a light drinker: he didn’t have his first drink, a martini, until age 25. He also has many hobbies which keep his mind active, including crossword puzzles, computer word processing, collecting inkwells and Boy Scout memorabilia, extensive travel, and staying in contact with the many people he’s met through the years.