Ray G. Bauwens

Worcester - A bright light, recently diminished, has now been extinguished. 

Ray Bauwens died quietly at the Care One long-term care facility in Concord on Friday morning November 29, 2024, after a period of declining health due to complications of diabetes. 

Ray was the only child of Raymond H. Bauwens and Antonia (Navarro) Bauwens. He grew up in Athol, graduating from Athol High School, where he played the saxophone in the band. He then went on to earn a BA from Assumption College (now Assumption University) in Worcester. After graduation, he worked at various jobs but also began studying voice on the side under the direction of a professor from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. 

Ray started his formal working career at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, working his way up from the mailroom to being one of their IT directors. After a number of years there, he finished his career at HP (formerly Polycom) in Andover. 

Ray is best known for being a notable, classical music tenor in the New England area, with a special affinity and suitability for Italian opera. Upon arriving on the Boston scene in 1996 in Boston Academy of Music’s “La Forza del Destino”, which was performed at Jordan Hall, Richard Dyer gave this mention of him in “The Boston Globe” review (May 22, 1996), “Ray Bauwens is the closest thing to an Italian tenor New England has produced….” in over 50 years. On April 13, 2001, he was also featured on the cover of “The Boston Globe” arts section in an article covering the aspects of working a day job while also pursuing a musical career. 

Over the years he sang with numerous opera companies, orchestras, churches and other organizations all over New England, performing a wide variety of repertoire. Although the list is too long to mention here, through those organizations he brought enjoyment to many listeners. After a performance, he felt especially proud when he either heard shouts of “bravo” or noticed tears in someone’s eyes, as the musical piece swayed their emotions. The spectrum of these strong reactions gave him immense satisfaction knowing that he had hit both the technical and the emotional marks he was striving for. For 18 years, he was also the choir director of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Harvard, MA. 

Ray was also known for his warm and funny personality. He could be both quick-witted and silly. Besides music, he loved sports, animals, good food and drink. And true to his IT leanings, he loved keeping up with technology and having the latest gadgets. Besides performing, some of his happiest downtime moments were cuddling up or playing with a pet or watching football on tv while keeping up a running commentary back and forth via text with a good friend/fellow sports fan.

Since Ray has no remaining immediate family, no services will be held. He will be interred at the Silver Lake Cemetery in Athol, where his parents also have their final resting place.

Although Ray has no family to contact with condolences, he leaves behind many friends, colleagues, and fellow musicians both from his former jobs and music “gigs” over the years, as well as the parishioners who remember him from his church choir job. Ray was also proud to have remained friends with his former wife, Michele, up until the time of his passing. Friends are in discussion regarding organizing a concert in memory of Ray to be held at a later date, to be determined in 2025.

For now, you may enjoy reminiscing and remembering Ray by watching various moments of his past performances still available on YouTube.com. 

Please consider making a donation in Ray’s memory to the American Diabetes Association to help promote their mission of education, support, and research about this serious condition. https://diabetes.org/

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home. 245 Main Street, Waltham.