Dr. Raymond W. VanderWyk

Waltham – Dr. Raymond Winston VanderWyk, of Waltham, died Friday, December 24, 2010 at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth. He was 94.

Ray was born in Waltham on June 26, 1916, a son of the late Harold M. and Lila (Petingill) Colby, and had been a lifelong resident. His father died when Ray was two and his mother, Lila, later married Herman VanderWyk who adopted Ray when he was still a youngster. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1933.

Ray attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, graduating with a B.S. degree in 1937 and with a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry two years later. He earned his Master of Science in Pharmacy from the same school in 1942 while simultaneously earning a Master of Arts degree in Biology from Boston University. In 1950 Ray achieved his doctorate from Harvard University as a Doctor of Philosophy in Biology.

He spent his entire life working in the field of science. During World War II he was in charge of clinical laboratories for the U.S. Army’s 7th Field Hospital. Before the war he served for five years with the Massachusetts National Guard’s 211th Coast Artillery.

His career spanned six decades beginning when he worked at Butman Drug store in Waltham in 1932. Ray worked as a pharmacist at Acheson’s and LaPierre’s in Cambridge, Sawyer’s in Jamaica Plain, Beatty Bros. in Waltham and at Waltham Hospital and at Concord (NH) Hospital. He also held academic positions at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and received their Outstanding Teacher’s Award in 1981, the Alumni Achievment Award in 1984 and the College Medal five years later.

He also held several administrative positions on the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy faculty and authored several articles for pharmaceutical publications.

Ray was also an active member of his church and his community. He was a lifetime member of First Congregational Church in Waltham, now called Trinity Church, where he served on all of the church committees over the years and had been chairman of the executive and the finance committees. He was also a deacon in the church and its historian. Ray published the church newsletter called the ‘Steeplecock News’ and was the author of its ‘Gems of the Past’ column.

He was also a longtime member of the Board of Managers at the Leland Home in Waltham and a member of the Wayland Golf Club. Ray also enjoyed bowling, tennis, gardening and reading history and biographies.

His wife, Frances (Rapczynski) VanderWyk, died on January 3, 2005.

Ray leaves his children, Dr. James C. VanderWyk of Powder Springs, Georgia, Susan E. Silva of Pocasset and David A. VanderWyk of Norfolk; his grandchildren, Mark and Paul Silva, Brent, Kara, Blake and Kathryn VanderWyk; his great-grandsons, Liam and Noah VanderWyk; his sister, Dorothy McQuiston of Waltham and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ray’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, December 29th from 4 to 7 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning in Trinity Church, 730 Main Street, Waltham when his funeral service will be held. Burial will follow in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Church, 730 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451 or to Leland Home, 21 Newton Street, Waltham, MA 02453.