Dr. Raymond Zilinskas

1938 - 2018

Dr. Raymond Zilinskas
November 9, 1938 - September 14, 2018
Spreckels
Dr. Raymond Zilinskas passed away September 14 after a brief illness. Ray was the Director of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program as well as a Research Professor at the Graduate School of International Policy and Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Ray worked as a clinical microbiologist for several years before commencing graduate studies at the University of Southern California. His doctoral dissertation addressed policy issues generated by recombinant DNA research, including the applicability of genetic engineering techniques to biological weapons development. He worked at the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the Center for Public Issues in Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. In addition, while at Maryland he was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, the Johns Hopkins University.
In 1993, Ray was appointed a William Foster Fellow at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), where he worked on biological and toxin warfare issues. In April 1994, ACDA seconded Ray to the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) for seven months, during which time he participated in two biological warfare-related inspections in Iraq encompassing 61 biological research and production facilities. At UNSCOM headquarters, he set up a database containing data about key dual-use biological equipment in Iraq and developed a protocol to guide UNSCOM's on-going monitoring and verification program in the biological field.
Ray was one of the world's foremost experts on chemical and biological weapons and was frequently called on to answer questions about both technical aspects and policy implications of these topics by journalists, academics, and governments. Even Hollywood writers took note of his expertise; he served as an advisor to the FX television show The Americans during its fourth season, helping its writers and producers develop plot lines involving lethal pathogens. Ray worked the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey for 20 years where he enjoyed teaching, doing research and writing. Some of his more recent publications include The Soviet Biological Weapons Program, a book co-authored with Milton Leitenberg that details the USSR's large-scale biological weapons program. Last year he completed a sequel called Biosecurity in Putin's Russia, co-authored with Philippe Mauger. 
Ray was an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer. He also loved playing tennis, especially at Chamisal, and spending time with family and friends.
Ray leaves his wife Helen, his brothers Gene and Victor, sister-in-law Dagmar, nieces Annette, Beatrix and Tanya, Tanya's husband Daoud and their children Harris and Lena, family in Chicago and Sweden, colleagues as well as friends all over the world. We loved him dearly and will miss him forever.
The family requests that memorial donations in Ray's name be made to the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.
A celebration of Ray's life will be held at the Courtside Bistro at Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club, 185 Robley Rd, Corral De Tierra, CA on November 9, 12NOON -3PM. RSVP by November 5 to 831-484-6000.
Condolences may be written to the family at
www.bermudezfamilyfunerals.com


View the online memorial for Dr. Raymond Zilinskas