Dr. Raymond C. Houghton Jr.

Houghton, Dr. Raymond C. Jr. ALBANY Dr. Raymond Carl Houghton Jr., 60, of Delmar, died Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at St. Peter's Hospice Inn. He was born May 26, 1947 in Greenfield, Mass. He lived throughout New England in his early years and was a graduate of Pittsfield High School in 1965 and Norwich University in 1969 with a B.S. in mathematics. He began his working career as a programmer for GE in Pittsfield, Mass. and Burlington, Vt. He served his country as a second lieutenant (101st Airborne) field artillery officer in the Vietnam War from October 13, 1971 to October 12, 1972. He was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with "V," Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Upon discharge, he pursued both higher education and government work, receiving an M.S. in computer science from GWU in 1975 and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins in 1980 while working as an analyst and project leader for the NSA and NBS in Md. His pursuits in academia became full time as he split work on completing his Ph.D. in computer science at Duke University in Durham, N.C. and as an associate professor at Augusta State University in Augusta, Ga. in the mid-80s to early 90s. In 1991, he received his doctorate from Duke. He served as an adjunct lecturer at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. In 1995 he opened Cyberhaus, a computer learning center in Delmar, N.Y. During this time, he began to pursue his interest in history, specifically the Revolutionary War. He wrote several award-winning revolutionary war travel books and hosted tours and talks on the subject. In 2005, he became town historian for the town of Bethlehem, N.Y. and worked as a columnist for "Our Towne" newsletter. He was a featured author of "In the beginning: recollections of software pioneers," where his recollections included creating possibly the first email in the 60s, coming about from a complicated scheme to talk to a girlfriend at Colby Junior College by taking advantage of a remote connection hosted by Dartmouth College. He had honors from the Department of Commerce; was consistently listed in Who's Who in America; was a Bethlehem Middle School mentor; he built and maintained several community websites including Feestelijik Bethlehem; sat on a committee that brought about the Bethlehem Veteran's Memorial; and was a People to People Ambassador to China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. He made arguably the world's finest sugar-free sweet potato pie. Surviving are his loving wife of 33 years, Dr. Jan Laws Houghton of Delmar; son, Raymond James Houghton of Philadelphia, Pa.; daughter, Dr. April Houghton Blakeslee and husband Michael Blakeslee of Pittsfield, N.H.; daughter, Amy Houghton of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and a grandson, Westley James Blakes-lee. He is also survived by an older brother, Jerry Houghton of Billerica, Mass.; a younger sister, Theresa Houghton of Las Vegas, Nev.; and a younger brother, Scott Houghton of Simsbury, Conn.; as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Del-mar. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, 181 Western Ave. (between N. Lake Ave. and Quail St.), Albany. Burial will be 1 p.m. Monday in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Delmar Rescue Squad, 145 Adams St., Delmar, NY 12054.