The Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals is sad to announce the passing of one of its significant, long-time members. Raymond Robert Rasmussen II, known to many as Bob or Razz, passed away recently after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Bob was many things to many people in a myriad of organizations, generously willing to donate his time and talent to the benefit of others and organizations in which he believed.
Bob worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation in the Traffic Engineering Division for over 40 years, raised to a Master Mason in the Freemason organization, was an Executive Board member of the Heart of Virginia Council – Boy Scouts of America, and was a charter member of ATSIP. Bob’s contributions to ATSIP are limitless, as was his enthusiasm and charity to the organization. Bob was the ATSIP president during 2008/2009 and he served a second term 2009/2010. He was 2nd Vice President in 2007/2008. During his presidency, he presided over ATSIP during a difficult transition from being a committee of the National Safety Council to being an independent, incorporated professional 501c3 organization (ATSIP). He deserves substantial credit for getting the organization’s membership records resurrected following the transition and he has served as chairperson of ATSIP’s membership committee since then. He also became ATSIP’s first and to-date only treasurer, which is an unpaid volunteer job in which he managed bank accounts, signed contracts, and worked with ATSIP’s various contractors. Bob was a remarkable behind-the-scenes worker whose hand turned the crank on many of ATSIP’s daily functions, which was just one of his unpaid passions. His willingness to accept thankless jobs was truly remarkable. He is the only person in ATSIP’s history to serve the organization so tirelessly in these many ways.
Bob’s obituary can be found at: https://www.richmond.com/obituaries/rasmussen-raymond/article_fb8c33f3-d9f6-5ab2-9d2e-f341d6dc38d6.html
All friends and family are invited to celebrate Bob’s life at a Masonic Service and Memorial held on October 18, 2019, at 2 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Ave., Henrico, Va. 23229. A private ceremony will be held later at Camp Brady Saunders Reservation. Please call the Heart of Virginia Council office at (804) 355-4306 for further details. In memory of Razz, donations may be made to the Nawakwa Lodge, Heart of Virginia Council, Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 6809, 4015 Fitzhugh Ave., Richmond, Va. 23230. Safe Journey, “Carefree Camper.”