Born in Los Angeles to Ray and Tencha LeDesma on July 8, 1937, Ray LeDesma, GOOD Club membership chair, grew up in Oxnard amidst scores of aunts, uncles and cousins.  Growing up, Ray enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing throughout the county.  When his sister, Arlene, was born mentally retarded, the result of a difficult birth, Ray became her watchful big brother.  He carried into adulthood the deeply held belief that we are, indeed, our brothers’ keepers.

Ray graduated from Oxnard High School in 1956 and  went to Cal State San Diego, where, as president of the Catholic Newman Club, he met his future wife, Diane.  He graduated with a B.S. degree in Business and a minor in Zoology and moved back to Oxnard with Diane.   Ray helped his dad and uncle manage the family business, Oxnard Produce Co.

The LeDesmas raised three sons.  Bruce, age 41, graduated from Stanford, then earned his law degree at Harvard. Steve, age 39, graduated from UCSD, then completed his medical degree at UCLA. Brian, age 35, graduated from Stanford and is a business manager for Enterprise Rent-a- Car.  Some of Ray’s past and present passions include traveling, the study of history, astronomy, paleontology, and anthropology.

Ray describes himself as a flaming liberal and supports many like-minded organizations.  He prides himself in being a long time, card-carrying member of the A.C.L.U.  About four years ago, Lauraine Effress brought him and Diane into our club.  His first taste of local political activity was campaigning for John Kerry, Lois Capps, and Pedro Nava.  The GOOD Club is an organization dedicated to the same core beliefs that shaped Ray as a young boy.  Today he tries to impart to his six grandchildren the values that he instilled in his own: Respect everyone, as everyone tries to do the best they can.  As GOOD Club’s warm and welcoming membership chair, Ray’s best is pretty darn good.
Dori Jones