When not in the studio, Ray enjoys spending as much time as he can outdoors, especially hiking and birdwatching. For many years Ray has participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count conducted by the Audubon Society and also has competed in an annual bird-a-thon to raise funds for citizen science. Yes – there is such a thing as competitive birding! He relishes sitting in his backyard, closing his eyes, and seeing how many species he can identify by sound alone.
Ray continues to play his trumpet with a local Wind Symphony which performs regularly and features guest artists from the San Francisco Symphony. He also plays regularly at his home church.
Ray has been teaching in churches and on retreats for decades, first in student ministry, and then leading classes with adults at his home church. He loves to read, especially history, and has enjoyed learning more about his own family history as a 4th generation Californian.