A reception will be held at the familyÕs home in Gig Harbor for Dr. Ahmet Rehai ÒRayÓ Islam, M.D.  All family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Dr. Islam passed away Saturday, February 26th from complications due to leukemia.  He was at home with his children.

Dr. IslamÕs journey began in Isatanbul, Turkey.  Born in 1924 (1340) to Mustafa and Kadriye Islam, Rehai was the 7th of nine children.  He received his Doktora Diplomasi from Istanbul University in 1948 where he was both valedictorian and president of his class.  After serving one year in the army as a Medical Officer, Ray traveled on to Saudi Arabia to obtain a private scholarship to study Internal Medicine from his older brothers.  Rehai spoke very little Arabic.  Events in the young country eventually lead to a public scholarship from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to study Radiology instead.  Rehai came to America in 1951 along with his younger brother, Nihai.  He was equipped merely with a letter of recommendation and a promise of scholarship funding looking for a place to complete his residency.  He spoke very little English.

Rehai was able to secure his residency with the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.  During his interview, Rehai promised Dr. Harold Jacox, M.D., then Acting Director of Radiology, that he would learn more English than Radiology in his first year.  In the second year, he would learn both English and Radiology about the same.  In the third year, he would learn more Radiology than English.  Dr. Islam completed his residency training in July of 1954 and passed the boards.  It was during this stay in America that Rehai met his future wife, Vera Paretzkin (1928-2001), who was completing her Masters degree in Social Work.  It was also during this period that he became affectionately know to his family and friends as Ray.

Ray returned to Saudi Arabia where he re-paid his debt to the Kingdom through three years of faithful service, leading the Departments of Radiology at several government hospitals,

In 1958, Ray returned to America.  He secured a one-year internship at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago in June.  In August, he and Vera were married.

At the end of the internship, the couple moved to Gig Harbor, Washington, under the majestic gaze of Mt. Rainier and overlooking the beautiful waters of the Puget Sound, which bear resemblance to IstanbulÕs Bosphorous Straits.  It was here that Ray and Vera made their home, adopting two children, Hilary and Marc.  

In June of 1962, Ray took his oath of citizenship, along with 37 others in Tacoma.  He was the only one from Turkey.  Ray worked initially at the Western Clinic in Tacoma, eventually joining the DoctorÕs Clinic in Bremerton, and finally settling into a private partnership that had offices in Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Enumclaw.

Ray enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, maintaining friendships with others living in London, France, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, as well as all across the United States.  He was well-loved by those that worked for him, and was noted for always remembering his staff with gifts from his travels.

In addition to practicing radiology, Ray was an avid investor, a hobby that engaged him up through last months of life.  He owned and/or operated several office buildings in Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Tacoma.  His tastes in real estate also varied as he invested at one time in an almond farm and two bowling alleys.

Photogenic and flirtatious to the end, Ray was a joy to be around.  His stories, wit and humor will be missed by all that were lucky enough to know him.  His children will always miss their trips to 7Eleven and the park on Saturdays


Published ÒRadiology, Vol. 62, No. 5, Pages 733-43, May 1954.Ó The Use of Conventional Depth-Dose Tables in Divided-Port X-ray Therapy.  Transmarginal Radiation and Depth-Dose Distribution.