Ray Kelly Connell

April 2, 1930 – February 20, 2026

Ray Kelly Connell, age 95, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026. Born on April 2, 1930, in Hoquiam, Washington, Ray lived a life defined by adventure, devotion, service, and unmistakable style.

Ray began his academic journey at UCLA, where he studied for three years, and completed his undergraduate education at Stanford University before earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California. He proudly served his country in the United States Army as a practicing dentist, rising to the rank of Captain.

Though he built a respected career in dentistry, Ray’s true passion was exploration. He was a world traveler at heart — never one to sit still, always ready to go anywhere at a moment’s notice. He invested in property, crossed continents, and embraced life with boundless curiosity and enthusiasm.

The weekend of New Year’s Eve going into 1989, at a party in Curry Village in Yosemite Valley, Ray met the love of his life, Tony Witinski. What began as a chance meeting became a 38-year partnership filled with adventure, laughter, and deep devotion. Their first trip together was a gay ski trip to Banff, Canada, where Ray taught Tony how to ski — just the beginning of a lifetime of shared journeys. Ray delighted in showing Tony the world.

When marriage equality finally became law, Ray and Tony were able to marry on May 14, 2015, returning to Yosemite — the sacred place where their story began. They exchanged vows among the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, stood together at Glacier Point overlooking the valley they loved, and shared a moment atop the great rock beneath Vernal Falls. Yosemite was not just where

they met — it was the landscape of their love.

Even into his nineties, Ray’s adventurous spirit never dimmed. At 94, he sailed on a cruise to South America that rounded Cape Horn. Last year, it was Ray’s idea to go to Disneyland — another joyful addition to a lifetime of travel. True to form, he went on Space Mountain. Tony had forgotten just how intense the ride was — and Ray was not particularly pleased about it. It became yet another

story they laughed about together.

Ray was always impeccably dressed, always smiling, and always ready for whatever came next.

He will be remembered for his warmth, elegance, spontaneity, and his refusal to let life pass quietly. He leaves behind his beloved husband, Tony, and all who were fortunate enough to be part of his remarkable journey.

His life was not measured in years, but in miles traveled, love shared, and joy fully lived.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” — John Muir