<p><em>Raymond Paul Lamoureux Jr.</em> was born on May 13, 1956 (Mother’s Day) in Chicopee, MA. His father, Ray Sr., who served in the Seabees in the Pacific during World War II, worked as a foreman at the local Firestone Tire factory. His mother, Betty, was a homemaker. Ray’s only brother, Michael, who was 15 years his senior, served in the Army during Vietnam. <br />Ray’s combination of athleticism and intelligence made him a standout in high school. People who knew him often remarked that he was one of the smartest people they had ever met and that he had a unique and independent spirit that occasionally clashed with authority. On the social side, Ray was known for his love of rock music, and he played bass guitar in a high school band that he formed with some friends. His insistence that music be played at earsplitting levels, even while falling asleep, was a constant throughout his life. <br />Upon receiving his appointment in 1974, Ray knew that West Point would afford him both a world class education and an opportunity for military service. Ray used his quick wit, great humor, photographic memory, and unquenchable curiosity to achieve great success in all aspects of cadet life. Ray’s unconventional and irrepressible good nature won him the quick friendship of his classmates. His amazing intellect rapidly propelled him to the top of his class scholastically and won him the respect of the academic faculty. An example of just how smart he was, and what a great friend he was, can be illustrated by the tutoring session he offered his classmates the night before the electrical engineering final exam during Second Class year. Over a period of several hours Ray went through the entire course and very succinctly and very simply covered everything he thought would be needed (and not needed) to pass the exam. Everyone there that night passed easily, and Ray posted a perfect score. <br />Ray avoided conformity to the greatest extent possible, which both confounded the Tactical Department and gave him unbridled pleasure. Ray had a great sense of humor and was a natural free spirit of the 1970s. His seemingly carefree attitude and ongoing resistance to the many rules and restrictions were often at odds with the rigid structure of West Point, but he quickly figured out not to take things forced upon him too seriously and greatly enjoyed most of what cadet life had to offer. <br />Ray’s Howitzer entry summed up his cadet life by saying that he “brought an easygoing personality and a strong will to live his own life,” which is another way of saying that he was a selfless star man that walked a lot of area tours. <br />Ray branched Signal Corps and was assigned to Fort Gordon, GA for his basic course, where he again helped his struggling classmates. Their hands-on training required the new lieutenants to configure communications gear while on field exercises. Ray was easily able to master the skills of operating multiplexers, earning him the moniker “Ray Lamourmux.” Upon graduation, Ray headed to Fort Huachuca, AZ for his first assignment, and he finished his active duty service at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium, earning an Army Commendation Medal and an MBA with distinguished honors through Boston University while there. <br />Ray left the service in 1984 and joined the management consulting and research firm of Harbridge House, Inc. in Boston, MA. He was the project manager that implemented the system that replaced toll collectors on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In 1991, Ray was selected to be one of about 40 individuals chosen to start up the new IBM Consulting Group and subsequently spent two years on special assignment at IBM headquarters in La Hulpe, Belgium. Upon Ray’s return to the States, his team designed, launched and directed IBM’s Global E-Business Strategy and Design Practice, which patented 100 new business models. He also served as IBM’s representative in the development of the E-Business Institute at Pennsylvania State University. In 2003, Ray left consulting to follow his dream of owning and operating his own catering, personal chef, and prepared food business called “Who’s the Chef?” In 2004, Ray re-entered the consulting world on a part-time basis, working for Navint Consulting and eventually becoming a partner at Executive Consulting Associates. In 2006, he returned to consulting fulltime as the account manager for Computer Science Corporation in Manhattan. <br />In May of 2008, Ray developed a persistent hoarseness and, following a visit to the doctor, was diagnosed with stage IV, metastasized lung cancer. Unfortunately, he did not benefit from chemotherapy or radiation and made the difficult decision to discontinue further treatment and go on hospice care. Two months later, on December 19, 2008, Ray died peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family. Ray’s memorial service was held on December 27, 2008 at the Neill Funeral Home in Camp Hill, PA, where many beautiful tributes to his life and accomplishments as a wonderful father, husband, mentor, and leader were delivered by his family, friends, and colleagues. Ray’s remains were buried on a blustery, winter day in January in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Danville, PA with a rifle salute provided by local chapter of veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. <br />Ray is fondly remembered and survived by his wife, Ann; his children: Dawn Davis, Sara Lamoureux and her husband, Jason Abadie, Alex Lamoureux and his wife, Maryanne Khlopin; his step-daughter, Gabrielle Trucco; his granddaughter, Madelyn Davis; and a host of other family, friends, and classmates. Well Done, Ray, Be Thou at Peace. <br /><em>— Charles S. Griffin ’78 and Ann Lamoureux</em></p>