Joel Ray

Joel Ray, son of George and Rose Ray, died at 86 years of age on January 27th, 2025, at 1:34 pm. Joel Ray was a resident of the Palace Renaissance in Miami Florida, where he passed peacefully in the presence of his daughter Mindy Ray and his daughter-in-law, Marsha Stultz, hospice nurse Terry, his roommate James, and James’ wife, Maria. He died After a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Joel is survived by his daughter Mindy, his son Bob, and his stepson Craig, his grandsons Daniel, Ben, and Adam, his nieces Jodi, Sharon, Tammy, Debbie, Randi, and Leandra, his nephew Erik, his great-nieces Stella, Charlotte, Violet, and Samantha, his great-nephews Anthony and Brian, and his great-grandnephews Trevor and Tristan.

Joel Ray was born in Brooklyn New York on April 14th, 1938. He was a bright young student and left high school early to attend The College of the City of New York School of Technology where he graduated with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering.

He met Susan Forman, and they married in 1959. They had two children, moved from Brooklyn to Spring Valley, New York, and raised their family.

Joel had a varied and satisfying career path. He worked for the US post office, was Vice President in charge of production at Tuck Tape for many years, and built a thriving business making custom hors d’oeuvres, to name a few.

Joel bravely went back to school in his fifties to learn computer science. He excelled in his field and became a chief consultant for AT&T. Joel was highly regarded for his unique talents and made a huge impact at AT&T for the remainder of his career before retiring.

Joel was the consummate opera aficionado and enjoyed listening to it whenever he could, be it on the hi-fi at home, in the audience at the Met, or while driving the car. He loved opera so much he sometimes would take his children and their friends to the New York Metropolitan Opera in the hopes they too would catch the opera bug. And when he was enjoying his retirement, Joel gave educational presentations about opera in the communities where he lived.

Joel remarried in 1990. He and his beloved wife Anne lived in Manhattan and Long Beach NY for many years before becoming snowbirds, and finally permanent residents in Florida, first in Boca Raton, then Miami.

Joel enjoyed traveling, attending cultural events, spending time with family, playing cards with friends, mastering sudoku puzzles, relishing ice cream, and doting on his beloved dog Scooter, with his wife Anne by his side.

Joel was well respected and admired by his coworkers and peers for his intelligence, strong work ethic, understanding nature, and good sense of humor.

Joel was a loving father with a firm temperament and a soft heart. Taking care of his family was of paramount importance to him, and he did that with love and dedication.

Joel was predeceased by his parents George and Rose Ray, his wife Susan Ray, and his wife Anne Ray, his sisters Beverly Dreizen, and Rhoda Star, and his nephew Barry Dreizen.

A funeral service was held on January 29th at Lakeside Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Miami, Florida.

The family wishes to thank Joel’s hospice nurse Jeanette, hospice aid Yamni, and all the hospice and Palace staff that were in any way involved with Dad’s care. You are all greatly appreciated for your loving care of Joel.

Donations can be made in his memory to GREATERGOOD.ORG