Armando "Ray" Salazar

Ray, as his family and friends fondly called him, grew up in Santa Ana until age of 14 before moving to Riverside, California where he attended La Sierra High School. He graduated from high school in 1988. During this time, he worked at Baker's Square as a server... a job that he loved and always talked about!

Following graduation, Ray had aspirations to attend college and enrolled at Cal State Fullerton. Only attending Fullerton for a very short period of time, he soon transferred to Cal State San Bernardino were he completed his degree in Liberal Studies. Upon graduating from college, Ray went to work for the Pennysaver as an administrative assistant. Shortly after starting his new job in 1994, Ray was diagnosed with leukemia and treated at the City of Hope. After radiation and chemotherapy treatments, he underwent a bone marrow transplant from his brother that assisted his recovery and cure from leukemia.

In 1996, he met Marc Aponte his best friend, husband and one true love. Like any healthy relationship … theirs was no different. They experienced many highs and lows, great accomplishments and a friendship fueled by love and respect. Marc states that Ray showed him LOVE CONQUERS ALL – especially, when you have a positive attitude. It was that notion that served as Ray’s guiding compass when he met people, developed friendships and took on obstacles that challenged his happiness.

In the years that followed, Ray pursued his dream of becoming a teacher. He was hired on an emergency teaching credential by San Bernardino City Unified School District at Warm Springs Elementary in 1998. During this time, he balanced completing his teaching credentials and obtained his master’s degree in educational administration. Ray loved being a teacher and dedicated his life to making sure he made a difference in the lives of his students. In fact, tonight you will hear from one of those students. Since he aspired to greatness, he pursued an administrative position serving as a vice principal at Roosevelt Elementary, Cole Elementary, Parkside Elementary and Lincoln Elementary. Around 2010, he returned to Parkside as the principal where he continued to dedicate his life to ensuring that every child would be valued and encouraged to reach their greatest potential.

On March 1, 2014, life as they knew it would change forever, Ray and Marc honored their love for one another by getting married, and celebrating their life together in front of their family and friends. Sadly, two days later on March 3, 2014, Ray was admitted to the hospital with a premature diagnosis of having experienced a stroke … but rather, he had a Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme brain tumor centrally located on his brain stem.

Ray learned his diagnosis came with an understanding that there was no cure. However, Ray’s positive attitude never waivered and he focused only on beating his second bout of cancer. In the months that followed, he underwent radiation and a series of chemotherapy treatments. For the last 18 months, he fought every day knowing that he had to live in the moment, not stress about his diagnosis and cherish the many blessings that had been bestowed upon him.

Considering that the odds were stacked against him, Ray’s infectious personality, beautiful smile and warm heart never took a back seat to his battle with cancer. He stayed the course … and, took it one day at a time. On September 16, 2015, surrounded by his family at home, he peacefully passed away knowing how much he was loved.