Raymond "Ray" Rafiti

Raymond (Ray) Rafiti passed away on March 29, 2025, in Fort Collins, Colorado surrounded by his loving family. Ray was born on April 30, 1935, to parents Angelo and Theresa Rafiti in Seattle Washington where he lived until 1953. He joined the US Air Force in January 1953. As a radar technician he was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi and St. John, Newfoundland. He discharged in October 1956, returned to Seattle and began working at Boeing Company.

In 1957, Ray was hired by the FAA to travel the western US installing radar systems at airports. One of his first assignments took him to Rock Springs, Wyoming where he met the love of his life at a local drive-up diner. After a six-week courtship he married Pat Rafiti on July 13, 1957. They spent the next four years travelling across and living in 11 western states driven by rotating FAA assignments. A final move in 1961 brought him to Longmont where he and Pat raised two sons, Mike and Ray. He lived in Longmont until 2021 when he moved to Fort Collins.

Ray embraced his Italian heritage and loved to spend time in the kitchen. He loved nothing more than to prepare meal for his family and friends. His favorite pastimes were cooking, gardening, hiking and biking Front Range trails with his wife and following the Broncos.

Ray is survived by his two children Ray and Mike, four grandchildren; Dominick, Tony, Chas and Gina and four great-grandchildren; Avery, Wylie, Sirus and Sammer (another great grand-daughter due in July). He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, brother, wife and infant daughter.