WESTERLO — Raymond H. “Ray” Nunn died unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at his home in Westerlo. He was 87.

“Ray was a uniquely brilliant and passionate man,” his family wrote in a tribute. “Ray was always available to share in a stimulating (or silly) conversation, often with a beer in hand.”

He was born on Feb. 17, 1938 in East Orange, New Jersey to Elmer Nunn and Lillian Barbara Erdman.

“He graduated from Union High School in 1955,” his family wrote. “He briefly attended Lafayette College, served a short stint in the United States Navy, nearly completed his Ph.D. in economics at Wayne State University in Michigan, worked for 17 years at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as a venereal disease investigator, earned a master’s degree in computer science at the University at Albany, and retired from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance as a computer analyst in 2008.

“Ray met his present wife, Roberta, when answering an ad for a room for rent while studying computer science at the University at Albany in 1984.

“Ray spent his free time reading mostly nonfiction with a dictionary by his side where he would learn new vocabulary to be used to entertain and befuddle those around him.

“‘I speak four languages, yet, I had to constantly ask him to explain what a word he was using meant,’ said his wife of 35 years, which was echoed by his son, Christopher.

“Ray’s daughter, Susan Stalter, who pre-deceased her dad, was a fabulous writer and a teacher of Latin and English.

“Ray openly admitted to having no social skills so he was always amazed and very proud of his adopted daughter, Aderia Crawford Nunn, who made friends so easily.

“Christopher followed in his dad’s mathematical footsteps becoming a credit-risk officer with Westdeutsche Landesbank and the Bank of Tokyo.

“Ray loved to explore unusual places from dive bars to Frank Lloyd Wright edifices to European beer halls in Germany, the Czech Republic, and East Germany.

“‘We even traveled to Sant Pierre and Miquelon, territories owned by France, off the coast of Canada unknown to the travel agent at the time,’ said his wife.

“Ray was a self-taught DIYer, inventing many objects such as a pull-down step stool for Aderia, a magnetic beer coaster that would not stick to your glass, a drip coffee maker, tiny tables with handles for picnicking, light fixtures made from empty tomato-sauce jars, etc.

“Roberta and Ray remodeled much of their large rambling farmhouse.

“He loved music. He bragged about hearing Zoot Sims alone in a small bar. He loved ’50s music: Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker, Mahalia Jackson, Sonny Rollins. As well as listening to military marching music, German Beer hall music, Irish ballads, and Mary Gauthier.

“Ray traveled with Roberta in pursuit of great theater at the Shaw and Shakespeare festivals in Canada, The Globe Theatre in London, to off-Broadway to see Kevin Spacey in ‘The Ice Man Cometh,’ and to our wonderful local theater companies in the Capital District.

“All his life, Ray railed against social injustices such as the struggles of Pennsylvania coal miners, prisoners Mumia Abul Jamal and Leonard Peltier, chemicals in processed foods, and the war in Gaza.”

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Raymond H. Nunn is survived by his patient and loving wife, Roberta Villanova Nunn; his son, Christopher Nunn; his daughter, Aderia Crawford Nunn; and his brother, Robert Nunn.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Arthur Ringsen, Sarah and Lucas Nunn, and Rory and Theo Stalter; his nieces, Rebecca and Claire Villanova, and Nancy Ceglia; and his nephews, Joseph Becker, and Steven and Craig Nunn.

His daughter, Susan Stalter, died before him, as did his parents, Elmer and Barbara Nunn.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday June 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at 22 Aitken Ave. in Hudson, New York.

Memorial contributions may be made to local animal shelters as “Ray adored his many dogs, cats, and chickens,” the tribute said.