Joseph C. Ray, Jr.
1934 - 2011 

The worlds of teaching and theater lost a friend on December 27, 2011 when Joseph C. Ray, Jr. of Colora, Maryland, died suddenly in a traffic accident. The only child of Joseph C. and Viola (Little) Ray, Joe was born on April 19, 1934 in Berea, Kentucky. In 1956, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Kentucky “With Highest Distinction.” While at Kentucky, Joe was also admitted to the honor societies of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honor Society.) He then went on to earn his M.A. at Emory University before embarking on a long and distinguished career as a teacher, historian, actor, and director.

After teaching for a year at Oakland Academy, Joe came to West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Maryland, where he spent fifty years as an integral part of the Academy’s life. During that time he taught history, drama, and political science, as well as serving as a dorm parent, class advisor, yearbook advisor, Department Chair, and Dean of Faculty. In 1993, he enjoyed one of his proudest endeavors as he wrote and published a very successful Pictorial History of West Nottingham Academy. On the occasion of his fortieth anniversary at WNA, the Academy named him an honorary alumnus of the class of 1992, recognizing its respect and appreciation for all his efforts. In his last decade, Joe “semi-retired,” assuming the position of Academy Historian, which allowed him to continue to mix with faculty and students every day from his office on campus in the Joseph C. Ray, Jr. History Center. In this capacity, he remained an active member of the school community, continuing his research into WNA’s rich history, while also maintaining contact between the Academy and its alumni and friends around the world.

“Mr. Ray,” as he was known to students and faculty alike, taught a broad range of classes from American History and Government to specialized courses in Russian, Japanese and Chinese History. He also developed specialized courses in these areas for the Academy’s Chesapeake Learning Center. His ability to encourage thoughtful discussion in an atmosphere of compassionate discipline created generations of well-prepared alumni, many of whom came to visit him over the years, taking a moment to thank him for all he did for them in the classroom, dorm, or on stage. Likewise, many a former teacher has stopped by to acknowledge his services to them as mentor and friend.

Theater was Joe’s second love. From his time at the University of Kentucky, where he became president of the Guignol Players, to his years at West Nottingham and for most of the summers of his life, Joseph C. Ray Jr. acted and directed in one form of theater or another. From 1962 to 1984 he directed the Nottingham Players, WNA’s student acting program. He was especially proud of the Children’s Theater Program he created, allowing WNA students to share their performances with elementary schools around Cecil County. During his summers, Joe often travelled to Ferrum College in Virginia where he was a fixture of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theater, appearing in or directing numerous productions like Life with Father, Cheaper by the Dozen, and The Wizard of Oz.

Teaching was Mr. Ray’s real passion, however. He was often heard to remark that he considered himself the luckiest man alive since he got to make a living doing what he loved best, teaching. He will be missed by the thousands of students, fellow-teachers, actors, directors, and friends who came to love his passion and commitment to the world he helped build with and around them. His friends are invited to join in a celebration of Mr. Ray’s life on January 14, 2011 at the R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen St., Rising Sun, MD 21911. Visitation begins at1 PM with a memorial service at 2 PM, followed by a reception on the campus of West Nottingham Academy. In lieu of flowers, friends are requested to make a donation to one of his three favorite theaters: The Nottingham Players at West Nottingham Academy, 1079 Firetower Rd., Colora, MD 21917; The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre , P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088; or the Mutineer Theatre Company, PO Box 41167 Los Angeles, CA 90041.

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January 3, 2012 

Dear Friends,

Plans have been made for a memorial celebration of the life of
Joseph C. Ray, beloved teacher, administrator and historian at West
Nottingham Academy. It will be a time of remembering Joe in the way
he wanted us to, in joy and with wit, on Saturday, January 14.

At Foard Funeral Home, Rising Sun, MD
1:00 p.m. Visitation
2:00 p.m. Memorial Celebration

A reception will follow at the J. Paul Slaybaugh ‘Old Academy’
on the campus of West Nottingham Academy.

In lieu of flowers, Joe asked that donations be made to the following
organizations:

The Nottingham Players at West Nottingham Academy,
1079 Firetower Rd.C
Colora, MD 21917

The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre
P.O. Box 1000
Ferrum, VA 24088

The Mutineer Theatre Company
PO Box 41167
Los Angeles, CA 90041

My personal thanks to the many of you who have shared your memories
of Joe via email and Facebook over the past week. It has meant a lot to all
of us who worked with him every day.

D. John Watson, PhD
Head of School
West Nottingham Academy

Joseph C. Ray, Jr.
1934 - 2011

Dear Colleagues,

The West Nottingham community suffered a terrible loss the afternoon of December 27^th with the death of Joseph C. Ray, Jr., former history teacher, theater director, department head, Emeritus Dean of Faculty and current Academy Historian, in a car accident not far from the school.  Mr. Ray was in his 50^th year as a member of the Academy faculty and community, something that meant very much to him.  Throughout his fifty year tenure he came to know thousands of students and hundreds of faculty members.  For over twenty years Mr. Ray nurtured and directed a successful and adventurous theater program at West Nottingham, one of the most gratifying of the numerous roles he played here.  Many remember him as one of the most inspiring teachers and mentors they have ever met.  Clearly, he was one of the most influential faculty members to work at West Nottingham in the last century.

Mr. Ray had spent the morning, as he did almost every day that WNA offices were open, working on materials for the upcoming bicentennial celebrations.  He was very excited at having discovered what he believed to be the minutes of the very first WNA board of trustees meeting.  We had talked before the holidays of the possibility that we might have a record of that particular meeting, and I know he would have been elated to have found them.

This afternoon we begin planning a memorial celebration event to honor Mr. Ray’s life and his contributions to the West Nottingham community.  We will keep you apprised of those plans as they develop, and as soon as funeral arrangements have been completed we will send that information out as well. 

This is very difficult for all of us.  I ask that you please keep Mr. Ray and his students, the West Nottingham faculty past and present, and the WNA community in your thoughts and prayers.  He was a very special and unique soul who will be dearly missed.

Sincerely

D. John Watson
Head of School
West Nottingham Academy

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