Ray grew up in the Austin neighborhood on the west side of Chicago where he was active in church & the high school Youth For Christ group. He graduated with a degree in Math from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Ray spent many summers working at Youth camps where he met the woman, Ruth, he was to marry 14 years after they'd worked together... a story he loves to tell, so ask him. They have 3 grown Christian children, 2 daughters-in-law, & two Fantastic Grandchildren. ( HE's really enjoying being a grandfather!)
Ray has spent decades involved in the stock market: trading both on and off the CBOE floor, overseeing development of electronic trading programs & providing Regulatory services for a number of firms. He also spent some years rehabbing buildings in inner city Chicago neighborhoods.
None of those jobs were/are as exciting or fun as planning and leading Worship. He spent 10 years at LaSalle Street church and 12 years at Calvary Memorial in Oak Park before God lead him to OCC. There is nothing Ray loves more than gathering with believers and praising his Lord and Savior.