Raised in Beirut, where his father was dean of American University and where he became totally fluent in Arabic, Ray graduated from Deerfield and majored in history at Princeton to prepare as a member of the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Middle East as missionaries, teachers, diplomats, and businessmen. 

At Princeton Ray was a member of Cap and Gown, played on our national co-champion lacrosse team, and roomed with Dave Van Dusen, John Schoeffler, and Len Drorbaugh. Upon graduation he married his college sweetheart, Martha Weir, and joined the secretive operations division of the CIA. Masquerading as a Foreign Service officer, he served for 26 years in Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. When stationed in Jeddah, Ray was the agency’s top Middle Eastern officer. His career adventures prompted the former head of operations to describe Ray as a “legend in the CIA.” 

Upon leaving the CIA, Ray was a consultant to corporations and governments working from Jeddah, Virginia, and his final home in Princeton, where he also spent much time rooting for the University’s football, basketball, and lacrosse teams and advising faculty and students. 

Ray died Nov. 1, 2019, in Princeton, leaving two sons as survivors.

Class Year: 
Undergraduate Class of 1951
,
Graduate Class of 1964