Roland Daniel Ptak, 91, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, took his final flight into eternity on Aug. 6, 2016. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Susan.
He was born Sept. 26, 1924 in Newark, N.J. to Polish immigrants, Jan Walter Ptak and Estelle Honora Ptak. The family moved to Great Kills, Staten Island, N.Y. where Roland attended New Dorp High School and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He became a Navy pilot and was a recipient of the World War II and Atlantic Theater Service Medals.
Upon discharge, he entered Pratt Institute where he met
his wife, Susan Grayson, the “prettiest gal on campus.” He worked in the advertising industry in Manhattan.
They moved to Arizona in 1948, immediately falling in love with the Arizona mountains and landscape.
Roland worked in advertising department at the Arizona Republic & Phoenix Gazette, as an advertising layout artist and market research assistant.
In 1958, as Co-founder of Ptak & Richter Advertising Agency, the team enjoyed a long record of accomplishments in advertising, public relations and marketing research. Their client list included many leading firms in Arizona. The agency was hired to supervise several key political campaigns and was recipient of many awards for excellence in advertising and promotions.
In 1965, Roland Ptak served as Chairman of the Board of Transamerica Advertising Network representing 24 independent advertising agencies around the country. In 1966, the firm merged with David W. Evans & Associates of Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1973, Mr. Ptak retired from the advertising business.
He moved to Fountain Hills and started a real estate brokerage and development company producing millions of dollars in sales and construction. The Ptaks were active in the early development of Fountain Hills. They were volunteers and supporters of the Fountain Hills Community Theatre, where they both acted in several of its early productions. Roland was an original founder and past president of the Fountain Hills Rotary Club. He developed a chain of childcare centers called American Pre Schools.
In addition to serving as lay readers in the Episcopal Church, Roland and Susan were founding members of Saint Barnabas in Paradise Valley, All Saints in Phoenix and Saint Anthony in Scottsdale. A lifelong learner, Roland’s religious studies included a four-year course, Education for the Ministry, and six years of the Arizona's Bishop's School of Spirituality.
He served on the National Prayer Committee in Washington DC and participated in a number of International Christian Leadership Seminars. He served in various leadership positions with such organizations as International Christian Leadership, National Conference of Christian and Jews, March of Dimes Foundation, United Fund, Boy Scouts of America, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Art League and the Grass Roots Opera Company.
Roland was Chairman of Young Life in Arizona and headed up a bond drive for the city of Scottsdale. He served as an honorary lecturer at the Institute for Foreign Trade and past President of the infamous “Mags Ham Bun Bunch” of Scottsdale. He rode with the Scottsdale Charros. He was a founder of a weekly Men’s Bible study group at Saint Barnabas and the “Master’s Men” Bible study. He was also an avid painter and left us many masterpieces to remember him by.
Roland is survived by their four children, Dr. Laurie-Sue (Bill) Retts, Dr. Jeffrey (Toni) Ptak, Kim (Sheryl) Ptak and Leslie Ptak Baker; eight grandchildren, Treyson Ptak, Aaron (Tina) Retts, Ashley (TJ) Ryan, Nicholas Ptak, Kieran Baker, Kinzer Baker, Kira Ptak and Samantha (Elly) Geldwerth; and five great grandchildren, Jackson Ryan, Sam Ryan, Keaton Retts, Ainsley Retts and Greyson Geldwerth.
Donations can be directed to “Young Life in Arizona.”
A memorial celebration will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Parish, 6715 North Mockingbird Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85253, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 at 3 p.m.
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