Raymond J. "Ray" Payne

Raymond J. (Ray) Payne, a resident of the Seabury Retirement Community in Bloomfield and formerly a resident of West Hartford, died on December 31, 2019 at age 90. He had practiced law with the Hartford law firm of Reid and Riege, P.C., for over 40 years prior to his retirement. Ray had served as legal counsel for a number of pension funds, including Taft Hartley funds providing benefits for employees in the construction industry. He had also served as managing officer and President of Reid and Riege, P.C., and had been listed in the publication “Best Lawyers in America.” He was formerly a director of the Seabury Retirement Community, the Hartford Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center and the Connecticut Easter Seal Society. He served as President of the Society in the 1960’s and received a Founders Award from the Society for his work in the development of Camp Hemlocks in Hebron, CT, an outdoor recreation center which has provided a camping experience for thousands of youth and adults with disabilities. In 2015, the Camp was acquired by Oak Hill and continues to serve people with disabilities. Born in Cincinnati, OH, on June 20, 1929, son of J. Ray and Grace Payne, Ray grew up in Dayton, OH and was a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and the University of Michigan Law School. He was a long-time member and former vestryman of St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford and a trustee of the Bishop’s Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. He was also a member of the Connecticut and American Bar Associations, the Country Club of Farmington, and the Old Guard of West Hartford. He was predeceased by his best friend and wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Class Payne, whom he met when they were students at DePauw University. He is survived by three daughters, Virginia C. Payne of Rochester, NY; Catherine C. Payne and her husband, Daniel Banner, of San Francisco, CA; Christine C. Payne and her husband, Randall D’Arche, of Seattle, WA; a son, David C. Payne, and his wife, Audrey Goodman, of Atlanta, GA; and five grandchildren: Ruth Payne, Charles Payne, Hannah D’Arche, Olivia D’Arche and Samuel Banner. A memorial service will be held at St. James’s Episcopal Church, 1018 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Contributions in Ray’s memory may be made to the Endowment Fund of St. James’s Episcopal Church, 19 Walden Street, West Hartford, CT 06107; to the Seabury Charitable Foundation, 200 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002; or to Oak Hill, 120 Holcomb Street, Hartford, CT 06112.