Ray died Dec. 4, 2014, in New Jersey.

Ray came to us from Middletown (Ohio) High School. At Princeton, he was a keyceptor, participated in intramural sports, and ate at Dial. Ray majored in biology and decided that a career in secondary-school education was his calling.

He began his lifelong teaching career at Episcopal Academy, then joined the faculty of the Peddie School in 1964. He earned a master’s degree in science and teaching from Union College. Ray remained at Peddie for 35 years, teaching and chairing the science department for more than 25 years.

Princeton awarded Ray its award for Distinguished Secondary School Education in 1976. He wrote a widely used high school biology textbook, Biology: Living Systems, which had eight editions and several foreign translations. Ray won many awards at Peddie, was an outstanding teacher, and inspired many of his students to enter the field of science. Upon his retirement, the Oram Biology Prize was established at Peddie in his honor.

Ray married Diana Fox, who predeceased him. Together, they had two children, Jeffrey ’89 and Lesley (a first-grade teacher). They survive him, along with seven grandchildren. The class sends its condolences to them all. 

Undergraduate Class of 1962