Raymond Leroy Hallows, 93

A life member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

Died October 27, 2022

Raymond Leroy Hallows, 93, of Skillman, died on October 27, 2022, close to his loving family.

Ray grew up in Joplin, Missouri. Since he, at age 12, bought his first Bolex movie camera, his passion was documenting family memories in motion pictures and video.

Ray received a BSEE degree in 1952 from Missouri University – Science and Technology. Upon graduation, Ray joined the Radio Corporation of America. Following RCA, Ray’s engineering positions were with New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, Mercer County Community College, Advanced Technology Systems in Fairlawn, EMR Photoelectric in Princeton, and CBS in New York.

He married Barbara Gould in 1962 and they raised three children, Laurie, Kenneth, and Gail in Lawrenceville. Ray loved the family home, which he maintained attentively for 57 years. There, he assembled an extensive collection of editing and projection equipment. He enjoyed working on audio visual projects and running his film-to-tape and digital editing and transfer service. Over the years, there were many family reunions, especially on Star Island, in the historic Isles of Shoals, 10 miles off Portsmouth, NH.

He was a life member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, serving as manager and membership chairman in Philadelphia, and on the Board of Editors of the SMPTE Journal.

He was also a member of the Princeton Chapter of the SPEBSQSA (Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America). His involvement in this group inspired his lifelong habit of spontaneously erupting into humorous song. This irreverent and joyful practice continued to his final days. A master of the English language, he enjoyed crossword puzzles, and playfully recited puns, poetry, limericks, and famous quotations.

Ray is predeceased by his sister, Jean Ann and his first granddaughter, Evan Lee. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hallows; three children: Laurie (John), Kenneth (Nuria), and Gail (Jonathan); eight grandchildren: Eleanor, Theo, Brian, Alexander, Andrew, Kale, Adelaide, and Lane; nieces, Lani, Diane, and nephew, David and their families.

A private burial and life celebration tribute was held at the Natural Burial Space at Rosemont Cemetery, in Hunterdon County.

A memorial service is planned for Spring 2023 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton (UUCP), 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. Memorial contributions may be made to the UUCP, or the Star Island Corporation, Portsmouth, NH, or Doctors Without Borders.