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Ray Freeman

January 6, 1932 - May 1, 2022

The administrator of this page is Keeler James

Ray played a major part in the blossoming of NMR techniques and their chemical applications that followed the introduction of Fourier transform methods in 1972. His group in Oxford pioneered many new methods in 2D NMR, selective excitation and broadband decoupling, pulse sequence elements that are now part of every NMR spectroscopist’s toolkit and that are in daily use in every NMR laboratory as well as in the life sciences and medicine. Ray was a superb communicator, and was often the star turn at NMR conferences - his presentations were characteristically littered with wry jokes and self-deprecating remarks, and illustrated by beautiful hand-drawn slides and cartoons. He was a wonderful mentor to his students, who remember with great fondness his warmth, humour and creativity. Ray was a gentleman scientist, somewhat of the old school, and a devoted family man. He will be greatly missed, but warmly remembered by all who had the privilege of working with him.

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2022-06-16 12:59:08 wrote:

I only heard very recently of Ray’s passing. I wish my deepest condolences to Anne-Marie and Ray's family. I have extremely happy memories of my time being in Ray’s group in Oxford as a part II student and then doing a DPhil. I requested to join the group because in the pamphlet describing part II opportunities he appeared to be doing the coolest research. His undergraduate lectures were never well attended. With hindsight I think this is because he did not dwell on the details of how to assign an NMR spectrum (which students thought was what they needed to know). He did not give the lectures with the swagger of someone who was a world leading scientist and wanted all the students to know it. It was therefore quite a surprise for me when after I joined the group I realised just how revered he was in the NMR community. Ray ran the group from the tea-room. The lengthy morning and afternoon tea breaks with Ray were certainly the highlights of the day (and I don’t even like tea). It was here that the interchange of ideas happened. Ray offered so much insight, and had the depth of experience to know what was achievable and where the barriers should be pushed. He did this with a humour that was very dry but still very cheeky. I could not have wished for a better mentor. I will never forget him.

2022-06-16 12:59:08 wrote: I only heard very recently of Ray’s passing. I wish my deepest condolences to Anne-Marie and Ray's family. I have extremely happy memories of my time being in Ray’s group in Oxford as a part II student and then doing a DPhil. I requested to join the group because in the pamphlet describing part II opportunities he appeared to be doing the coolest research. His undergraduate lectures were never well attended. With hindsight I think this is because he did not dwell on the details of how to assign an NMR spectrum (which students thought was what they needed to know). He did not give the lectures with the swagger of someone who was a world leading scientist and wanted all the students to know it. It was therefore quite a surprise for me when after I joined the group I realised just how revered he was in the NMR community. Ray ran the group from the tea-room. The lengthy morning and afternoon tea breaks with Ray were certainly the highlights of the day (and I don’t even like tea). It was here that the interchange of ideas happened. Ray offered so much insight, and had the depth of experience to know what was achievable and where the barriers should be pushed. He did this with a humour that was very dry but still very cheeky. I could not have wished for a better mentor. I will never forget him.

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