Raymond Goldstein

Raymond Goldstein died May 25, 2026, at home after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on December 15, 1931, to Cecile Gawer Goldstein and Abraham Goldstein in The Bronx, NY. He was educated in the New York public school system and received a BS in physics from City College of New York and MS and PH.D. degrees in physics from Lehigh University. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1954 to 1956 and Army Reserves from 1956 to 1962.

After serving from 1962 to 1967 as a staff scientist at Boeing Scientific Research Laboratory in Seattle, WA, he was recruited to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA (JPL) and spent the rest of his career as a scientist in the space program. Career highlights include being detailed to NASA headquarters from 1980 to 1981 to work on advanced mission planning; Co-investigator on the Giotto Ion Mass Spectrometer; and missions to Saturn and the comet Cheryumov-Gerasimenko. From 1990 to 1999 he was manager of Cassini Instrument Scientists at JPL and manager of the JPL Space Physics Section. Dr. Goldstein continued his career from 1999 to 2019 at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, furthering his work on these and other projects. He authored numerous publications in the field of space research and held several patents.

While living in California Ray enjoyed racing his sailboat, “Solar Wind.” He was an avid hiker and skier, having lived for two years in Switzerland while working on the Giotto Mission. He loved travel and was always eager to go somewhere he had never been and see what he had never seen. Always curious, he had a vast knowledge of geography, history, music, and any number of subjects that came up, and he was always willing to learn more. His friends will remember him for his kindness, interesting and informed conversation, and his witty sense of humor.

Ray is survived by his wife, Jane Welch; his son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Susan Privman Goldstein; grandson Ariel Goldstein; brother Melvin Goldstein; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

For those wishing to remember Ray’s life, the family suggest donations to The Parkinson’s Foundation, The United States Holocaust Memorial Council, The KLRN Endowment Fund, McNay Museum, or charity of choice.

Plans for a memorial service are pending.