In remembrance of Equalizer Industries' Ray Asbery

The auto glass industry lost an innovator, leader and friend this past September, when Equalizer Industries’ Ray Asbery passed away suddenly Sept. 27, 2011, at the age of 67. 

A prominent industry figure, Ray’s contributions to the auto glass community encompassed an array of auto glass removal tools and a commitment to industry best practices. “Ray Asbery epitomized what’s best about the auto glass repair and replacement industry,” says Nicole Harris, vice president of publications for the National Glass Association. “He was generous, supportive, thoughtful, innovative and always a gentleman.  He built an excellent company and a legacy that we can all be proud of.”

 In 1994, the National Glass Association honored Ray with the NGA Glass Professional of the Year award, given to those dedicated to improving the glass and glazing industry through “promotion of quality workmanship and superior service; plus, a commitment to education and training, safety in the workplace and adherence to ethical behavior.”

“Ray Asbery revolutionized the auto glass industry in the United States and around the world,” says colleague and friend Gilbert Gutierrez, vice president of sales, Equalizer. “I sometimes think that he made the car manufacturers’ jobs easier by [offering] the types of tools that made the removal and replacement of auto glass simpler.  Ray always tried to do things right. He always made sure that if someone was [working] for the betterment of the industry, he would help in any way possible. Ray will be missed, but will not be forgotten.

 “I hope that the lessons he taught me will make me a better man like himself,” Gutierrez continues. “Those are big shoes to fill, but I’ll give it my best try! I can still hear him say, ‘Gil, what the auto glass industry needs is a good bunch of teachers, trainers and good ‘ole boys who can get out there and show the techs how it should be done. [People] like Bruce Gates, Bob Beranek, Frank Levesque, Gene Nichols, Dale Malcolm, Glen Moses, Mitch Becker, Carl Tompkins, Jeff Olive and yourself. We need an army.”

 Ray is survived by his wife of 46 years, Clare; his son Eric, daughter-in-law Cindy, and their children Robert, Ashlee, Lindsey and Carson; great-granddaughter Leila; his daughter Wendy Schneider, son-in-law Jeff and their children Jessica, Jordan and Alyssa. The family requests that donations in Ray’s honor be made to the American Cancer Society, Humane Society or Smile Train, his favorite charity.