Richard "Dick" Bray

1925 - 2018

Richard "Dick" Bray
July 21, 1925 - June 6, 2018
Sunnyvale
Richard "Dick" Bray passed away June 6th at the age of 92. His kind heart and prevailing optimism will be greatly missed. He loved unconditionally, and was a profoundly loyal husband, father and friend.
Dick was born in Bakersfield, California on July 21, 1925 to Stanley and Margaret Bray. The son of a railroad man, Dick, along with his brother Bob, grew up in various towns across California and Nevada before settling in Stanley and Marge's native San Francisco.
Fascinated with aviation, Dick enrolled at UC Berkeley at the age of 17, to study aeronautical engineering. At 18, he jumped at the chance to join his father, an Army Colonel and his brother, an Air Force bombardier, in the WWII effort. He transferred to USC's Naval ROTC program and was ultimately deployed on the USS Adams in the Pacific just as the war came to an end. Though he missed active combat, his tour in the Pacific would prove to be one of the most cherished adventures of his life.
On his return, Dick began work as a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. In his off hours he could be found traversing the California coastline with his first love, a Cessna 170, or sailing gliders over the East Bay.
In 1958, Dick married his true love, Marilyn Martin, and within 10 years had become the beloved father of four. A large but gentle man, Dad was able to effectively manage his brood with a mere clearing of his throat, but preferred the role of parental "good cop" which suited his easy-going demeanor. He enjoyed sharing his many interests with his kids and proved an enthusiastic mentor in classical piano, tennis, skiing, sailing, cooking and anything STEM-related (long before there was an acronym for it.) His favorite family activities included sunset dinners at the beach and summer vacations at Lake Almanor.
Dick loved his work, cheerfully departing for Ames each morning with a mechanical pencil and slide rule tucked into the pocket of his short-sleeved white shirt. He was a brilliant scientist who made significant contributions in the field of flight safety and was recognized for his work in flight simulation and heads-up display during his 45-year tenure at Ames.
Upon retirement, Dick and Marilyn enjoyed international travel, duplicate bridge, The Celebrity Forum, and the San Francisco Symphony in the company of great friends. Dick was also active in the Sons of Retirement and the Owl Feather Society, and sang a booming bass in the church choir for nearly 50 years. As loving grandparents of eleven, Dick and Marilyn were regulars at grandchildren's games, recitals, and concerts.
Dick was predeceased by his loving wife of 55 years, Marilyn Bray, and is survived by his son Rich (Kathy) of Bellevue, Washington, son Don (Suzanne), and daughters Julie Altinger (Rick), and Maribeth Coyne (Joe) all of Los Altos, along with eleven adoring grandchildren.
Our family is grateful for the skill and dedication of Dad's many caregivers at Sunny View Retirement Community who treated him with compassion and respect throughout his final years.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass on Saturday, June 30th at 10:00 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection, 725 Cascade Drive, Sunnyvale, CA. Mass will be immediately followed by a reception nearby.


View the online memorial for Richard "Dick" Bray