If you are lucky enough to know Ray Panek, you know he is a man of boundless energy and unwavering dedication to community. His life is a testament to the power of passion, mentorship, and volunteerism spanning competitive sports, finance, and historic preservation.
Raised just outside Princeton, New Jersey, Ray eventually landed in Rye, a place he has proudly called home for two decades. Does this classify him as a local yet?
From a young age Ray was drawn to competitive sports, including football, golf, racquetball, and beach volleyball. But, little did he know these pastimes would become the building blocks for his career and volunteerism. A love of sports and fitness led him to discover a passion for running, ultimately completing an impressive ten marathons, finishing his first in under three hours.
“Learning to row was the beginning of really being an advocate … and of connecting.”
During training for the Boston Marathon, he crossed paths with Neil Wood, a seasoned professional in the Boston financial sector and an expert in cultivating lasting connections. Under Neil's mentorship, Ray honed the skills needed for his future success in financial services. Today, Ray is a Partner/ Principal at Odiorne Point Asset Management in downtown Portsmouth.
Ray’s contributions now extend far beyond his client work. Driven by his love for sports and a desire to support his children’s interests, he volunteered to lead the Velo Kids Mountain Biking program. His passion for beach volleyball and his daughter's involvement on the Rye Junior High (RJH) team spurred Ray to become a volunteer coach.
Dedicated to being a strong coach and mentor, he went the extra mile to become a certified Under-15 volleyball coach through the New England Region Volleyball Association. Even though his children have outgrown these programs, Ray continues to volunteer, focusing on the joy of coaching and helping young players develop skills that will serve them on and off the court. You'll still find him in the bleachers, passionately supporting his former RJH players during Portsmouth High School girls’ volleyball games.
Along with his ongoing commitment to coaching volleyball, Ray finds time to volunteer as a caretaker for local landmarks White Island Lighthouse and Pulpit Rock Tower. His motivation stems from an innate desire to preserve these historical gems and contribute in any way he can. “I feel like I learn something every time I volunteer," Ray says. Several years ago, Ray played a pivotal role in saving the Pulpit Rock Tower as a historical landmark, preventing it from becoming a cell tower. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of Pulpit Rock Tower, giving tours and sharing his extensive knowledge of the local seacoast region and its rich history. Fun fact—Ray helped orchestrate a surprise marriage proposal at the tower in October.
In true fashion, Ray’s adventurous spirit led him to pursue another passion when he moved to the seacoast in 2003—sculling. Ray has been sculling along local waterways and out to White Island ever since.
During one of his early excursions to the White Island Lighthouse, Ray recognized the need for cleanup. He later crossed paths with Sue Reynolds, the head of Lighthouse Kids, a local nonprofit educating children about preserving the lighthouse. Inspired by the organization’s mission, Ray embraced the chance to be a steward and unite his love of sculling with his dedication for preserving seacoast New Hampshire’s treasures.
Throughout the summer, he journeys to White Island to maintain the lighthouse. In these moments, moving across the ocean water, Ray ponders his next project– a rowing program for junior-high students, allowing them to experience the joys of sculling and open-water exploration. When asked why he wants to do this, Ray explains “Most people don’t have an opportunity to try sculling—you could easily go your whole life without having access.” And for Ray, he said “learning to row was the beginning of really being an advocate … and of connecting.”
One thing is evident: Ray Panek's dedication to his community remains unwavering, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
“I feel like I learn something every time I volunteer,"