Ray R. Sareeram

SAREERAM

RADM RAY R. SAREERAM, SC, USN

Passed away August 29, 2007 surrounded by his family in his home in Westborough, MA. He went peacefully after a 12 year struggle with cancer.

Ray Sareeram exemplified the meaning of "self-made man". He was born in 1938, the seventh child of Charles and Lajwanti Sareeram, Indian immigrants who settled near Sacramento, CA. At a very young age, he lost both of his parents and had to find his way in the world. His talents as an athlete propelled him to local fame as an award-winning football player through high school, junior college and college. Not long after completing his Associate's degree at Sacramento Junior College and Bachelor's degree at Sacramento State College, he was drafted into the military during the Berlin Wall crisis. The Navy would become his home for the next thirty-three years.

After completing his Officer Candidate School training in Newport, RI, in April 1962 and graduating from the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, GA, soon thereafter, he was posted on the USS KENNETH D. BAILEY (DDR-713) and then the USS SYLVANIA (AFS-2) as a supply and disbursing officer. He served one tour as the Director, Contract Close-Out, Officer-in-Charge Construction Contracts in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Upon returning from Vietnam, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan with distinction. From there, he worked as an Operational Logistician in various posts including Deputy Chief of Supply, Commander Task Force 73, Subic Bay, the Philippines, and as Fleet Supply Officer, US Pacific Fleet Headquarters, Pearl Harbor, HI. He commanded two supply stations during his tenure in the Navy: Defense Depot, Ogden, UT, and Naval Supply Center, Oakland, CA.

Ray Sareeram holds the unique distinction of being the first person born of Indian heritage to earn the rank of Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in the U.S. Navy. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star, and four Meritorious Service Medals.

When he retired from his naval career, he began his second career as Vice President, Logistics, at BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc., in Natick, MA. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Logistics. He worked there for eleven years and retired July 27, 2007. He held equal success in his personal life. On October 31, 1966, he met Catherine Glancey of Philadelphia, PA, when they were both stationed with the Navy in Naples, Italy. They married May 6, 1967. They have three children, Catherine, Thomas and Stephanie. Catherine, a former U.S. Air Force officer, married Conrad John Lautenbacher and has two children, Brynn and Cade. Thomas, a former naval officer who works for the Department of Homeland Security, married Amy Bockhop. Stephanie is a professor of English as a Second Language.

Ray Sareeram will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on November 28, 2007 with Full Military Honors. A Mass will be held in his honor at the Fort Meyer Chapel at 10:45 a.m. the same day. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or the VNA Care Network & Hospice.