Raymond F. PELLETIER

MIAMI — Raymond F. (Ray) Pelletier, professional speaker, author, and consultant, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Saturday, May 21, 2005, of complications following surgery. The 57-year-old Miami resident was a professional speaker with a magical personality and a passion for charitable organizations and youth-oriented causes.Known as "America's Leadership Advisor," Ray Pelletier was internationally respected by leaders of business, education, sports and government. The self-taught motivational speaker — who early in his career used magic and sleight of hand to open his audiences' minds — worked with over 300 clients that included Disney, Hewlett Packard, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. Military. He brought his positive principles to professional and college sports teams, including the University of Miami's football Hurricanes — work that produced nine championship rings.Ray wrote the business best-seller "Permission to Win" and just last week held a signing event for his second book, "It's All About Service," published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Ray Pelletier was proud to be a certified speaking professional (CSP), a CPAE (member of the Speaker's Hall of Fame), and a dreamer who worked a little magic and inspired people to achieve more for themselves than they ever thought possible.A man who shared with thousands his personal philosophy to approach each day as "January First, the first day of the rest of your life," Ray lived the way he taught — positively and in-the-moment. "What happened yesterday," he would say, "really doesn't matter. You can't change anything you said or you did." What really matters, according to Ray, is to see today as a gift and an opportunity to make a positive difference in someone's life.Ray served in the U.S. Air Force in the '70s, an experience that shaped his values and helped prepare him for his mission in life. As General Gregory S. Martin, U.S.A.F, writes in the foreword to"It's All About Service": "Ray highlights the idea that leaders need to think of themselves as 'servant-leaders.' In other words, the leader is really serving the people he or she leads."Clients, students and friends will attest to Ray's dedication to this concept. Through the years, Ray drew inspiration from his real-life experience, such as incorporating the anything-is-possible lesson of the 1980 Gold Medal-winning U.S. Hockey Team after witnessing and sharing their success at the Lake Placid Olympics with his four brothers.Above all, Ray put others before himself. He made time for anyone who needed it. And, he always did so with a self-deprecating sense of humor and his personal mantra, now adopted by thousands: "Better than terrific."He was predeceased by a brother, William A. Pelletier. Ray is survived by first wife Zoraida Ojeda and their two children, Raymond Jr. and wife Julie of Miami, and Kimberly Coe, husband Tim and their two daughters, of Nashville; his second wife Joyce Baribeau of Brunswick, Maine; and by brothers Phil Pelletier of North Andover, Mass., Jere Pelletier of Temple, N.H., and Lee Pelletier of Fort Plain, N.Y. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.ARRANGEMENTS: A reception to celebrate Ray's life and achievements works will be held at Van Orsdel Funeral home in Coral Gables on Tuesday, May 24, from 5 to 9 p.m. The service will be on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at University Baptist Church, 635Anastasia Ave., in Coral Gables.