Dr. Raymond William Bouchard

Raymond William Bouchard, 77, formerly of Shamong, New Jersey, passed away December 11, 2021, in Roanoke, Virginia. Ray was born in Fort Bragg, California, and grew up in Leominster, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Leominster High School and Fitchburg State College and earned a Ph.D. in Zoology (Aquatic Biology) from the University of Tennessee. On Jun 23, 1973, Ray married Judith Durell Way in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey.

Ray held fellowships at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and later taught at the University of North Alabama. For more than 20 years Ray was a senior scientist for the Patrick Center for Environmental Research (The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia) where he was the leader of the Macroinvertebrate Section. He was an expert in the taxonomy and systematics of crayfishes and other crustaceans and had broad knowledge of freshwater organisms and their use in monitoring pollution. He participated in aquatic biological studies throughout North, Central, and South America, including Peru, Panama, and Ecuador. He authored numerous publications on freshwater organisms including many papers describing the ecology, distribution, and conservation of crayfishes. He also identified and described 12 new species of crayfishes and a new species of darter. Many of the papers on crayfish taxonomy were co-authored or illustrated by his wife, Judy. Ray also had a genus of crayfish (Bouchardina) and a species (Cambarus bouchardi) named in his honor. 

Ray enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, birdwatching, and lacrosse (playing, coaching, and refereeing). Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Judith Way Bouchard, and his parents, Gilbert and Clara Bouchard. He is survived by his sons R. William Bouchard, Jr., (Erin) of Circle Pines, Minnesota, and Durell Bouchard (Suzann) of Roanoke, Virginia; sister Joan Hall (Richard) of Leominster, Massachusetts; brother Paul Bouchard (Cheryl) of Leominster; and grandchildren August, Julius, Clayton, Sylvia, Jude, and Libby. A celebration of Ray’s life is planned for next summer. Contributions may be made in Ray’s memory to Friends of Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (https://friendsofforsythe.org/) or Food Bank of South Jersey (https://foodbanksj.org/).