20 JUNE 2025 Ray Artigue By Sherry Sklar From early childhood, author Ray Artigue collected phrases and sayings the way other kids might roam the beach, gathering colorful seashells as mementos from summer vacations. Instead of squirreling his treasures in a shoebox, he saved them carefully, not knowing why he felt compelled to do so. These sayings were kept in files, folders, desk drawers, and gloveboxes, becoming touchstones of his life’s hidden corners. Over the years, he would return to them in moments of grief and reflection, drawing on their quiet strength as he built a life and career grounded in words. A lifelong Arizonan, Ray is a veteran marketing and PR executive and a former professor at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business. He and his wife, Martha, have lived in Arcadia for 35 years, where they raised two children. He discovered a love of writing early on, a passion foundational to his career. He believes in the power of words to guide, ground, and connect people, both in business and life. “You can make anything happen by writing,” he shared, quoting C.S. Lewis. This enduring faith in words led him to write Wisdom & Wonderment: A Collection of Timeless Quotations for Modern-Day Reflection and Growth . The book, drawn from Ray’s personal archive and written over seven years, is organized into 17 themed chapters, followed by a thoughtful conclusion, Author’s Musings & More , and a closing invitation to the reader . Each chapter pairs quotations with personal reflections that may seem unrelated at first glance, yet together, they build a theme exploring human emotions, such as joy, fear, grief and personal growth, from creativity to knowledge and adventure. He acknowledges that each individual brings unique experiences to interpreting a text. “In high school, we’d read a poem, maybe Robert Frost, and everyone had a different take,” he recalled. “Then the teacher would say, ‘Here’s what it means.’ I always thought, how do you know? Literature speaks to each of us differently,” he said. Paraclete Press, a Massachusetts-based publishing house, published Wisdom & Wonderment . Ray collaborated closely with the art director throughout the 18-month process that he describes with pride. This was not only a heartfelt project, but a bucket-list achievement. “One of my favorite quotations is from Benjamin Franklin: ‘If you don’t like to be forgotten as soon as you’re dead, either write something worth reading, or do something worth the writing,’” he said. “I love that. It speaks to me about legacy. While it’s true that very few will remember us in 50 or 75 years, it doesn’t keep me up at night! I did my utmost to leave behind something worthwhile that someone might pick up and find value in the future.” Ray turned to the chapter’s opening, which resonated deeply. He writes about the nature of grief and the weight of losing so much at such a young age. “Although none of us knows this road unless we have walked it, I take comfort in words because to grieve means we cared somewhere along the way, and that someone cared back,” he said. With Wisdom & Wonderment , Ray hopes readers will more fully contemplate their life’s meaning, role, and impact on others. A fan of immersive storytellers like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling, he is working on his next book, a thrilling revenge tale with a working title of Payback . He expects to complete the first draft by Labor Day, promising a page-turner that keeps readers on edge. Having called Arcadia home for 35 years, Ray sees family and community as inseparable. That foundation of love, care, and connection guides his writing. With each word, he’s crafting a legacy rooted not only in reflection but in hope. Wisdom & Wonderment is available on Amazon. ‘Wisdom & Wonderment’ offers reflection and inspiration P I P E R F E L L O W S Learn more at pipertrust.org/piperfellows © 2025 Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Piper Piper Fellowship Fellowship 1. An opportunity for nonprofit leaders to reach, retool, and revitalize. 2. A Piper Fellowship can be transformational for both the leader and the nonprofit organization. Sentence: Sentence: “It gave me perspective; my Piper Fellowship was life-changing.” [pie-per-fel-oh-ship] noun

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