Born in Freeport, IL, May 6, 1933, to Beatrice E. (Rahn) White and Raymond E. White. Ray was educated in Illinois, New Jersey, Germany and Switzerland, following his father's many assignments in the US Army. Ray also served as a 1st Lt. in the US Army in the Corps of Engineers. His military background stimulated his life-long fascination with military history. While attending Heidelberg High in Germany, Ray met a beautiful Army "brat" debutante named Ruby E. Fisk who would later become his blushing bride of nearly 48 years. Ray and Ruby's family soon grew as Raymond E. White III, Kathleen M. (White) Wade, and Kevin D. White were born, grew up in Tucson, and went off to their separate destinations. Ray was also a proud grandfather of two beautiful granddaughters, Charlotte R. Wade and Sarah E. Wade. Also survived by sisters, Sheila Hughes of Tucson and by Barbara Lamere [Lemire] of Wisconsin.
In his 35-plus years at The University of Arizona, Ray was both a dynamic teacher and creative, industrious researcher at Steward Observatory and the Dept. of Astronomy. His wide-ranging interests led him to watercolor painting, photography, scuba diving, and supporting the arts and local artists. As an extensive world traveler, he always shared insights, supported efforts, and stimulated thinking to broaden the perspectives of students and fellow faculty alike. His natural skills in building community served him well as a Faculty Fellow. His Wednesday afternoon cookie hours were legendary.
Ray was one of the three "originators" of "The Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena" (INSAP) which provides scholarly discussions over the many and variegated cultural impacts of the perceptions about the day and nighttime sky, thus providing a mechanism for a broad sampling of artists, historians, philosophers, and scientists to get together, compare notes, and to have the chance to ask those questions of one another about each other's work which may have been stewing away for decades, thereby providing an understanding of "what are those guys (scientists) doing now?" Thus, the idea for a triennial (or so) series of scholarly discussions of INSAP was born. The first INSAP Conference took place in Italy, from 27 June to 2 July 1994. Thanks to the interest and support of this idea by Dr. G.V. Coyne, S.J., the first conference was held at the retreat house, "Mondo Migliore" on the Rocca di Papa above the Lago Albano, across the lake from the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo.
Ray was instrumental in starting "light pollution" awareness in Pima County, and served on the local commission to control light pollution as it affected the astronomical community in Tucson and the surrounding areas.
Ray was a Fulbright Scholar in 1996 and spent his year in Ireland at Dunsink Observatory. Ruby joined him, and [they] enjoyed their stay immensely.
Ray was a regular visitor to the Machu Picchu site in Peru, sometimes through the Earthwatch organization, where he combined his love of astronomy with archeology to prove that certain sites on the long-ago mountainous community were astronomically "inclined."
Ray retired from the University of Arizona a full professor in July of 1999, but he continued to travel, do research, and lecture about archeo-astronomical phenomenon. Ray also became very active in and devoted extensive time to his Masonic Lodge, #4, and was recently an officer of the Lodge. The Lodge, located at 1944 E. Allen Street, [Tucson] will have a memorial service for Ray on Thursday, October 21 at 2:00 p.m.
The University of Arizona is planning its own memorial service for Ray at the University's Museum of Art at Park and Speedway on Wednesday, October 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ray's name to a favorite charity of one's choice.
In his 35-plus years at The University of Arizona, Ray was both a dynamic teacher and creative, industrious researcher at Steward Observatory and the Dept. of Astronomy. His wide-ranging interests led him to watercolor painting, photography, scuba diving, and supporting the arts and local artists. As an extensive world traveler, he always shared insights, supported efforts, and stimulated thinking to broaden the perspectives of students and fellow faculty alike. His natural skills in building community served him well as a Faculty Fellow. His Wednesday afternoon cookie hours were legendary.
Ray was one of the three "originators" of "The Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena" (INSAP) which provides scholarly discussions over the many and variegated cultural impacts of the perceptions about the day and nighttime sky, thus providing a mechanism for a broad sampling of artists, historians, philosophers, and scientists to get together, compare notes, and to have the chance to ask those questions of one another about each other's work which may have been stewing away for decades, thereby providing an understanding of "what are those guys (scientists) doing now?" Thus, the idea for a triennial (or so) series of scholarly discussions of INSAP was born. The first INSAP Conference took place in Italy, from 27 June to 2 July 1994. Thanks to the interest and support of this idea by Dr. G.V. Coyne, S.J., the first conference was held at the retreat house, "Mondo Migliore" on the Rocca di Papa above the Lago Albano, across the lake from the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo.
Ray was instrumental in starting "light pollution" awareness in Pima County, and served on the local commission to control light pollution as it affected the astronomical community in Tucson and the surrounding areas.
Ray was a Fulbright Scholar in 1996 and spent his year in Ireland at Dunsink Observatory. Ruby joined him, and [they] enjoyed their stay immensely.
Ray was a regular visitor to the Machu Picchu site in Peru, sometimes through the Earthwatch organization, where he combined his love of astronomy with archeology to prove that certain sites on the long-ago mountainous community were astronomically "inclined."
Ray retired from the University of Arizona a full professor in July of 1999, but he continued to travel, do research, and lecture about archeo-astronomical phenomenon. Ray also became very active in and devoted extensive time to his Masonic Lodge, #4, and was recently an officer of the Lodge. The Lodge, located at 1944 E. Allen Street, [Tucson] will have a memorial service for Ray on Thursday, October 21 at 2:00 p.m.
The University of Arizona is planning its own memorial service for Ray at the University's Museum of Art at Park and Speedway on Wednesday, October 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ray's name to a favorite charity of one's choice.
Born in Freeport, IL, May 6, 1933, to Beatrice E. (Rahn) White and Raymond E. White. Ray was educated in Illinois, New Jersey, Germany and Switzerland, following his father's many assignments in the US Army. Ray also served as a 1st Lt. in the US Army in the Corps of Engineers. His military background stimulated his life-long fascination with military history. While attending Heidelberg High in Germany, Ray met a beautiful Army "brat" debutante named Ruby E. Fisk who would later become his blushing bride of nearly 48 years. Ray and Ruby's family soon grew as Raymond E. White III, Kathleen M. (White) Wade, and Kevin D. White were born, grew up in Tucson, and went off to their separate destinations. Ray was also a proud grandfather of two beautiful granddaughters, Charlotte R. Wade and Sarah E. Wade. Also survived by sisters, Sheila Hughes of Tucson and by Barbara Lamere [Lemire] of Wisconsin.
In his 35-plus years at The University of Arizona, Ray was both a dynamic teacher and creative, industrious researcher at Steward Observatory and the Dept. of Astronomy. His wide-ranging interests led him to watercolor painting, photography, scuba diving, and supporting the arts and local artists. As an extensive world traveler, he always shared insights, supported efforts, and stimulated thinking to broaden the perspectives of students and fellow faculty alike. His natural skills in building community served him well as a Faculty Fellow. His Wednesday afternoon cookie hours were legendary.
Ray was one of the three "originators" of "The Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena" (INSAP) which provides scholarly discussions over the many and variegated cultural impacts of the perceptions about the day and nighttime sky, thus providing a mechanism for a broad sampling of artists, historians, philosophers, and scientists to get together, compare notes, and to have the chance to ask those questions of one another about each other's work which may have been stewing away for decades, thereby providing an understanding of "what are those guys (scientists) doing now?" Thus, the idea for a triennial (or so) series of scholarly discussions of INSAP was born. The first INSAP Conference took place in Italy, from 27 June to 2 July 1994. Thanks to the interest and support of this idea by Dr. G.V. Coyne, S.J., the first conference was held at the retreat house, "Mondo Migliore" on the Rocca di Papa above the Lago Albano, across the lake from the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo.
Ray was instrumental in starting "light pollution" awareness in Pima County, and served on the local commission to control light pollution as it affected the astronomical community in Tucson and the surrounding areas.
Ray was a Fulbright Scholar in 1996 and spent his year in Ireland at Dunsink Observatory. Ruby joined him, and [they] enjoyed their stay immensely.
Ray was a regular visitor to the Machu Picchu site in Peru, sometimes through the Earthwatch organization, where he combined his love of astronomy with archeology to prove that certain sites on the long-ago mountainous community were astronomically "inclined."
Ray retired from the University of Arizona a full professor in July of 1999, but he continued to travel, do research, and lecture about archeo-astronomical phenomenon. Ray also became very active in and devoted extensive time to his Masonic Lodge, #4, and was recently an officer of the Lodge. The Lodge, located at 1944 E. Allen Street, [Tucson] will have a memorial service for Ray on Thursday, October 21 at 2:00 p.m.
The University of Arizona is planning its own memorial service for Ray at the University's Museum of Art at Park and Speedway on Wednesday, October 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ray's name to a favorite charity of one's choice.
In his 35-plus years at The University of Arizona, Ray was both a dynamic teacher and creative, industrious researcher at Steward Observatory and the Dept. of Astronomy. His wide-ranging interests led him to watercolor painting, photography, scuba diving, and supporting the arts and local artists. As an extensive world traveler, he always shared insights, supported efforts, and stimulated thinking to broaden the perspectives of students and fellow faculty alike. His natural skills in building community served him well as a Faculty Fellow. His Wednesday afternoon cookie hours were legendary.
Ray was one of the three "originators" of "The Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena" (INSAP) which provides scholarly discussions over the many and variegated cultural impacts of the perceptions about the day and nighttime sky, thus providing a mechanism for a broad sampling of artists, historians, philosophers, and scientists to get together, compare notes, and to have the chance to ask those questions of one another about each other's work which may have been stewing away for decades, thereby providing an understanding of "what are those guys (scientists) doing now?" Thus, the idea for a triennial (or so) series of scholarly discussions of INSAP was born. The first INSAP Conference took place in Italy, from 27 June to 2 July 1994. Thanks to the interest and support of this idea by Dr. G.V. Coyne, S.J., the first conference was held at the retreat house, "Mondo Migliore" on the Rocca di Papa above the Lago Albano, across the lake from the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo.
Ray was instrumental in starting "light pollution" awareness in Pima County, and served on the local commission to control light pollution as it affected the astronomical community in Tucson and the surrounding areas.
Ray was a Fulbright Scholar in 1996 and spent his year in Ireland at Dunsink Observatory. Ruby joined him, and [they] enjoyed their stay immensely.
Ray was a regular visitor to the Machu Picchu site in Peru, sometimes through the Earthwatch organization, where he combined his love of astronomy with archeology to prove that certain sites on the long-ago mountainous community were astronomically "inclined."
Ray retired from the University of Arizona a full professor in July of 1999, but he continued to travel, do research, and lecture about archeo-astronomical phenomenon. Ray also became very active in and devoted extensive time to his Masonic Lodge, #4, and was recently an officer of the Lodge. The Lodge, located at 1944 E. Allen Street, [Tucson] will have a memorial service for Ray on Thursday, October 21 at 2:00 p.m.
The University of Arizona is planning its own memorial service for Ray at the University's Museum of Art at Park and Speedway on Wednesday, October 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ray's name to a favorite charity of one's choice.
