Ray L. Riley, 1930-2005

Ray Riley, a Sierra Club member since 1971, died Jan. 24 after a battle with cancer. Ray assumed a leadership role in the Sierra Club’s Santa Monica Mountains Task Force. He represented it on the Angeles Chapter Safety Committee, served as its outings chair, wrote its safety policy, and led many memorable hikes. Ray was a Basic Mountaineering Training Course graduate and leader, a mountaineering-rated (M) leader, and a Wilderness Travel Course instructor. Ray was known by all who met him on Sierra Club trips as a very strong hiker and as an innovative route-finder. His endurance was legendary. Tough and adventurous, Ray was fond of traversing over steep ridges. It was often his wont to sign out early to explore off-trail routes through brush to make the trip back to the trailhead more interesting.Ray continued to hike during his

last year of life, ascending Mugu Peak, High Point, Mt. Baldy, Cucamonga, Troop, Burnham, Mt. Hawkins, Sandstone Peak, and his favorite, Emerald Bug Pinnacle.

-Don Croley and David Michels

Richard Bernard Pollak, 1911-2005

Richard Bernard Pollak died July 9 after being hit by a car while taking his usual 2-mile morning walk. He was 93. Pollak was an avid hiker and a Sierra Club trip leader. He was a docent naturalist at Malibu Charmlee Wilderness Park, a docent at the Los Angeles Zoo, a Topanga Canyon docent, and a docent at the Cabrillo Marine Museum. He was also an active member of the Nature Conservancy. Pollak was well known in recent years for his Club-sponsored Walks in History. Based on extensive research, he led interpretive walks in nine Southern California communities. He had hoped to be able to pass along his research in a book covering his walks.

-Mark Govatos