C. George Ray, M.D. (1934-2017)

C. George Ray, M.D., retired professor and former chairman, Department of Pediatrics, died Sunday, Jan. 15, in Tucson, Arizona. He was 82 years old.

Ray was born Dec. 24, 1934, to Charles and Georgia Ray in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1952, Ray enrolled in Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, where he played on both the Rock Island and Augustana College tennis teams.

After he graduated cum laude, Ray completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago, School of Medicine in 1960. In the 1959-1960 academic year – his final year as a medical student – he was named the Seymour Coman Fellow in Infectious Disease.

Ray then went on to complete his internship and residency at the University of Washington, Seattle. In his final year of residency, July 1963 to June 1964, Ray was named chief resident in pediatrics and fellow in congenital defects at the University of Washington.

After his residency, Ray served as a surgeon and officer in the Vietnam War. From 1965 to 1966, he served in the Epidemic Intelligence Service office, which was a part of the U.S. Public Health Service at the Kansas City Field Station in Kansas.

From 1965 to 1966, Ray also served as an instructor in pediatrics at the University of Kansas’s School of Medicine in Kansas City. In 1966, Ray then moved back to Seattle where he worked at the University of Washington, first as an instructor until he became an assistant professor of pediatrics in 1967. In 1969, he added microbiology to his title and continued as an assistant professor, and the following year, he was promoted to associate professor of laboratory medicine, microbiology and pediatrics.

In 1973, Ray became a professor and he remained at the university until 1976, when he moved to Tucson to be a professor of pathology and pediatrics at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine.

In 1988, Ray was appointed acting head of the Department of Pathology. Then in 1990, he was made associate head of the Department of Pediatrics.

The following year, Ray became member and director of clinical virology and microbiology laboratories within the infectious program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. In 1993, he became acting head of the program in infectious disease at the cancer research center, and he was named professor of pathobiology at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health.

In that same year, Ray left the University of Washington to begin his tenure at SLU. He was appointed a professor and the fifth chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University and Cardinal Glennon Hospital.

At the time, Douglas Ries, who was president of Cardinal Glennon at the time, praised Ray, saying, “We believe that Dr. Ray will bring national stature to our pediatric program and will continue to enhance the quality and scope of pediatric services offered to our region.”

A prolific writer and well-known researcher, he had authored more than 200 journal articles and book chapters when he arrived at SLU. By the end of his career, Ray had authored 300 scientific articles and books. In addition, he wrote and co-edited Sherris Medical Microbiology, now in its sixth edition.

In 1998, Ray became the IMMUNO Endowed Professor, as he continued his appointment as chair of pediatrics.

In a retrospective of Cardinal Glennon, Ray is quoted as saying, “My tenure at Glennon was the most gratifying time of my life. I recall the residents’ morning report, going over patients who were admitted the night before, as a real highlight.… I learned far more from the residents at those sessions than they ever did from me. And we all enjoyed it!”

In 2001, Ray retired and returned to Tucson where he became a clinical professor of pathology and medicine and emeritus professor of pathology at the University of Arizona. Over the course of his career, Ray received numerous awards for teaching and in the fields of microbiology and virology.

Though he left SLU many years ago, he continued to stay engaged with the faculty, as well as his former students. Robert Wilmott, M.D., noted that under Ray’s leadership, the department of pediatrics developed significantly particularly pulmonary medicine, emergency medicine and general academic pediatrics. Ray was remembered for his dedication to the Pediatric Research Institute, supporting the recruitment of several basic science investigators and fostering the development of the cord blood bank for stem cell transplantation, according to Wilmott.

“Dr. Ray left many memories and impressions behind in the hospital and with the faculty whom he had mentored,” Wilmott said. “He is described by them as a strong leader who cared deeply about the welfare of the residents, the patients and the faculty members. Many of our faculty members still talk about the warmth that he showed towards them and the depth of his commitment.”

Wilmott credits Ray for his leadership skills and his vision of what the department could become.

“I feel grateful to Dr. Ray for the way he created a strong legacy for the next chair and for the Department of Pediatrics,” Wilmott said. “Some of his initiatives did not come to fruition during his periods of leadership and developed at a later time, but the preparation that he did was invaluable… Dr. Ray played a significant role in the history of our department and this hospital, and he will be very much missed by his friends, family and colleagues.”

Ray is survived by Diane, as well as his son, Ted Ray; daughter, Becky Bishop; grandsons Ted Bishop and Alec Ray; granddaughter, Madison Ray; brother, Dave (Bobbie) Ray; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held March 5 at the Saddlebrooke Country Club in Tucson, Arizona. For those who wish to honor Ray with a memorial, the family has asked for contributions to be sent to SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue Network, c/o Evelyn Summers, 39459 Moonwood Dr., Tuscon, Arizona 85739.