RAY F. WELLBAUM

RAY WELLBAUM Obituary

WELLBAUM , Ray F. Age 73, of Brookline, died on May 8, 2024, at home, surrounded by love, after a courageous three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 73 years old. A kind and loving soul, known for his wise counsel, generosity and bawdy, good natured sense of humor. Ray grew up in Cincinnati, the son of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra musicians, Jack and Linda Wellbaum. Music was always a huge part of Ray's life and he studied piano and trumpet from an early age. A graduate of Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, he also earned a Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law. Ray and his wife, Karen, also a musician and a writer, moved to New York City, where their first daughter, Leah, was born. Marrying his law and music skills, he held executive positions with Philharmonia Virtuosi, New York City Opera, and Carnegie Hall. In 1991, the couple moved to Boston, where their second daughter, Emma, was born and Ray found his "dream job" as the Orchestra Manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years. An engaged, doting, and devoted father, he also loved music, sports, puzzles, "Jeopardy!", good food and travel. Living modestly but giving generously, he was an active member of the vibrant and caring community of First Parish in Brookline, where he taught religious education classes for many years and served on a variety of committees. In retirement, Ray served as a literacy tutor in the Boston Public Schools, regaling children with reading and sing-along videos via Zoom during COVID. In addition to Karen, his "partner in life" of over 40 years; and daughters, Leah and Emma Wellbaum; Ray is survived by sisters, Laura Kalaitzoglou and Lisa Wellbaum Geber (Stephen); nieces, Stephanie Geber and Lauren Geber Marquez (Danny); two nephews, two great-nephews and a great-niece. A private family Service has been held. A Celebration of Ray's Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Good Shepherd Community Care.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from May 11 to May 12, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for RAY WELLBAUM

7 Entries

Steve Montgomery

August 15, 2024

Ray, Karen and Steve at MoMA, 2023

Beth Bergman Fisher

June 20, 2024

So sorry to hear of Ray´s passing. He was the best person I ever worked with (at Carnegie Hall).

Beth Bergman Fisher

Paul Flaum

June 3, 2024

I shared many wonderful concerts with Ray as I ushered the section he sat in. We often sat next to each other an exchanged many thoughts. He was a bright, caring man and I enjoyed his presence and insights into Tanglewood and the music and the musicians.

Pat Kreger

May 29, 2024

I worked at WBZ TV. We produced The July 4th Live Pops Concert. Through that experience, I work with Ray. In our negotiations, he was always firm, fair and friendly. He was smart and funny, a pleasure to work with. I didn´t know that Ray was ill. I was sorry to learn that he had passed away. I wish his family all the best.

How you can show support

Follow

Get email updates whenever changes are made.

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Stu McCarthy

May 20, 2024

I was a friend of Ray´s at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati. There were 5-6 of us that spent every Friday night together in the last 2 years of high school playing ping pong and drinking beer. Butch, RB, Ree-gar, Ray (can´t use his nickname), Paco, and Mac fought furiously for ping pong superiority without a clear victor. On Saturday nights, we would gather our girlfriends as a group and drink more beer and raise hell. Despite all this, Ray still managed to run our major yearly school variety show. Ray had the ideal and best paid summer job of us all! He played the bugle/trumpet before each horse race at Cincinnati River Downs Race track. 8-10 races a day and he was done. We all envied him! After graduation, we all scattered and became lawyers, doctors, CPAs, entrepreneurs, musicians politicians and family men.

At our 40th high school reunion, the same group re-united in Butch Wood´s basement again for beer, ping pong and hurling the same old insults to one another until 3am. For a short time, we were all back in high school again.
Ray will be missed and never forgotten by his old buddies.

Steven Blum

May 12, 2024

I met Ray when we were both volunteering in a literacy program at Boston Public Schools. Ray exhibited amazing creativity and sincerity with the children he coached and touched many students. Although we met late in life, we quickly bonded and formed a friendship. I admired how deeply he cared about his family, friends and everything he was involved in. We had great lunches discussing everything from the Red Sox and Patriots, to politics and philosophy. His demeanor was gentle but his presence was memorable.

Melissa Howe

May 12, 2024

I remember Ray as a kind and calm presence when he would join us on Pops tours. More than once he rode with us on the orchestra bus as we traveled to and from concerts all over this country. I always enjoyed talking with him, and always felt confident knowing he was at the helm.

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results