Ray Samuel Bolze

12/16/1935 - 11/10/2025

Ray Bolze passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025 in Rockville, Maryland.mHe was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Geraldine, and his brother Ken.
Born in 1935 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Ray graduated from Carlisle High School in 1953 where he was active in band and orchestra as first chair trumpet and in the thespian club. Ray's grades and test scores earned him a full scholarship to Penn State University (1953-1957) and he was a proud member of the Navy ROTC program and served his senior year as president of the NROTC Quarterdeck Society. He was also a member of the Penn State Blue Band (trumpet) as well as Theta Xi fraternity. He received his BA degree in 1957 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy where he served as a Navy officer on the Destroyer Compton DD 705 and the Submarine USS Wahoo SS 565 stationed in Pearl Harbor.
Following four years of active military duty, Ray received his Law degree with Honors from George Washington University Law School in 1965. He worked as a law clerk for Judge Marvin John at the Federal Court of Claims and joined the Howrey and Simon law firm in DC as an antitrust trial lawyer. He had a distinguished career handling many antitrust and other complex cases, and presented arguments before the Supreme Court. Ray was an engaged member of the American Bar Association in the Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law section where he Chaired the Antitrust Law Committee for ten years and also served as Chair of the Section. In addition, he was pleased to represent a number of conservation organizations including obtaining a prohibition on the poaching of the African Elephant. In later years he served on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board of Professional Responsibility (2006-2012).
As an avid history buff along with his father who was a high school history teacher, Ray thoroughly enjoyed leading tours as a volunteer docent at the Smithsonian American History Museum for 20 years. He also served as Chair of the history museum's docent organization from 2004 to 2008.
Above all, Ray loved spending time with his wife Marlene and all of his family, and treasured many international trips with family and friends. While his children and grandchildren are spread out geographically, they were a true joy to him and he cherished all of the fun times together at their home in Maryland and summers in Chatham on Cape Cod with many boating adventures. Both Ray and Marlene remained active at Penn State establishing academic scholarships for DC area students and a scholarship focusing on Study Abroad programs. Ray attended St. Columba's Episcopal Church most of his life, and two of his children were married there.
Ray is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marlene; three children Dorene (Claude Carmichael - Franklin, TN), Stephen (Alicia - Duxbury, MA) and John (Cheryl - Rockville, MD); seven grandchildren Michael (Duxbury, MA), Brian (Neptune Beach, FL), Julian Carmichael (Franklin, TN), Andrew (Arlington, MA), Heather (Chicago, IL),
Elena Carmichael (Franklin, TN), and Samantha (Rockville, MD); and 3 great- grandchildren. Ray is also survived by his four sisters Deanna Seibert (Carlisle, PA), Esther Gibbs (York, PA), Norma Emerson (Penney Farms, FL), and Kathy Donkus (Penney Farms, FL).
A Celebration of Life will take place on December 12, 2025 at 1 p.m. at St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016. For those interested, in lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Ray's honor.