Dr. John Ramsey Raye

 John Ramsey Raye, beloved husband to Evelyn Raye, died peacefully at his home in Chatham, Massachusetts on April 3, 2026. John frequently expressed joy and contentment about the wonderful life he lived and approached each day with optimism and good humor.
John and his first wife, Paula, raised their family on Springhill Farm in Granby, Connecticut where they reveled in the hard and rewarding work of farm life: raising animals, harvesting vegetables, haying fields, and driving his beloved 1938 Ferguson tractor. After retirement, John and Paula moved to Chatham, MA where they could “see the ocean and smell the salt air.”. Family was everything to the Rayes and their new home quickly became the gathering place for friends and their extended family, much to their delight. John loved boating, fishing, clamming, wine collecting, and hosting the amazing “Camp Raye Days” that gathered grandchildren in a fun-packed, no-parents-allowed weeklong sleepover camp. Married to Paula for 53 years, he lovingly cared for her as she battled Parkinson’s Disease, until her death in 2018.
John married his next love, Evelyn, in 2019. Evelyn and John joined their hearts and families. Splitting time between Chatham and Eastham, they hosted blended family gatherings and shared Christmases, Fourth of July events, Florida visits, and summer time fun with the “kids” of all ages. Evelyn provided cherished, loving companionship and care throughout the rest of John’s life.
John was raised in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts and summered in Boothbay Harbor, ME. He graduated from Amherst College and Harvard Medical School. Focused on pediatrics, he was one of the early physicians to enter the new subspecialty of Newborn Intensive Care (Neonatology), joining the faculty of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in the 1970’s as Head of Neonatology. He developed the first Regional Newborn Intensive Care Program in Connecticut, which included transport and intensive care for critically ill premature newborns, as well as education for healthcare staff. John published, with valued colleagues, over a hundred research papers, book chapters, and abstracts on fetal and neonatal physiology and healthcare. He became Professor of Pediatrics in 1982 and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics in 1989. In that capacity, he brought together the major Pediatric services in the Hartford area to form the new hospital, the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he was named the first Physician-in-Chief. He remained in that capacity until his retirement in 1998. During his career, he was proud to be Co-Chair of the Neonatal Resuscitation of the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. This small committee developed the first widely approved skill-based program for newborn resuscitation and published a course manual, the Newborn Resuscitation Program, to train millions of providers around the world.
John is survived by his wife, Evelyn Raye, his daughters, Kimberly Raye Woolley (Peter) of Medfield MA, Karin Raye (Bradford Steiner) of Chatham, MA and his son, William Raye (Kristen) of Harwich. MA. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Paula Parker Raye. He is also survived by Evelyn’s sons Matthew Lawrance (Jillian) of Montana and Christopher Lawrance (Angela) of Florida. His grandchildren were the light of his life: Hannah, JT, Shea, Zachary, Sam, Ella, Jack, Emma, Owen, and Rory.  He also leaves many adored in-laws, nieces, nephews, and their children.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Connecticut Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or a charity of choice.
Notes of comfort may be made to his family at www.chapmanfuneral.com