 RETIREE OF THE YEAR —
Former PEF Retirees President Ray Ferraro receives the
national award for Retiree of the Year from Frank Stella
of the American Federation of Teachers. The presentation was
made at the October 3 meeting of the PEF Retirees
Executive Board. — Photos by Jim Adsit
Ferraro
set high service standard
As the new statewide president of PEF Retirees, I have
big shoes to fill. My predecessor, Ray Ferraro, racked up
an impressive list of accomplishments over the eight
years he was our leader.
It’s no wonder Ray was named “Retiree of the
Year” by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
at its convention in September, and was honored by his
colleagues on the PEF Retiree Executive Board at their
October meeting.
Eight years ago, Ray Ferraro took on the leadership of an
organization that was perpetually in debt and unable to
pay its bills. Now, though PEF Retirees doesn’t have
a lot of money, we are solvent and our finances are well
managed and completely transparent.
Eight years ago Ray Ferraro took over an organization
with 4,100 members. Now, we have more than 13,000
members, with momentum that promises to put us over
15,000 in a year’s time.
Eight years ago, a pension COLA was the “impossible
dream” for retirees. Ferraro made the COLA a central
issue for PEF, and for all public retirees in this state.
He became, perhaps, the best-known retiree lobbyist in
the halls of the Capitol and was frequently pictured
sharing the podium with high-level elected officials from
both political parties.
Former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, who calls Ray
Ferraro “a great leader and a good friend,”
says, “No one did more to achieve the COLA than
Ray.”
According to state Sen. Thomas W. Libous, “Ray
Ferraro is a name well known to the Majority Conference
in the Senate. … When I want to take the pulse of
public retirees, I call Ray. The guy is top notch.”
I, too, value and rely on his advice and counsel, and I
am privileged to call him my friend. Kudos to Ray Ferraro
for a job well done.
WE SALUTE YOU — Ray Ferraro is honored by his
colleagues on the PEF Retirees Executive Board at their
October 2 meeting. Shown are Eileen Spence (Region 3),
Steve Muscarella (Region 1), Ken Hunter (Region 8), Dave
Grier (Region 2 and statewide president), Alice Hughes
(retirees’ assistant), Cal Thayer (retirees’
representative on the PEF Executive Board), Ray Ferraro
(Region 5 and statewide president emeritus), Ken Cousin
(Region 9), Mary C. Reid (Region 12), and Jim Adsit
(Region 4).
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