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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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2022-05-05 22:06:59 wrote:

I find it hard to express my sadness at the passing of Ray. But the sadness is mixed with a feeling of warmth and gratitude that I had the privilege of working under him at the most formative time of my scientific career. Actually my phrase "working under him" is inaccurate - with Ray, it always felt like "working with him" or better - "going on a voyage of discovery together" - a voyage consisting of endless quiet conversations and cups of tea. He had a really unique skill of gently nudging his students and co-workers towards an idea, quietly sharing his intuition but often allowing us to lay the final piece ourselves. As a method to build up confidence and inspiration, it could not be bettered. But with him it was entirely natural. It is not a coincidence that so many of his students went on to have prominent and successful careers. He was a lovely, wonderful, and inspiring human being, with a deep and playful intuition that has influenced an entire field - and will continue to resonate, I believe, for many long years.

2022-05-05 22:06:59 wrote: I find it hard to express my sadness at the passing of Ray. But the sadness is mixed with a feeling of warmth and gratitude that I had the privilege of working under him at the most formative time of my scientific career. Actually my phrase "working under him" is inaccurate - with Ray, it always felt like "working with him" or better - "going on a voyage of discovery together" - a voyage consisting of endless quiet conversations and cups of tea. He had a really unique skill of gently nudging his students and co-workers towards an idea, quietly sharing his intuition but often allowing us to lay the final piece ourselves. As a method to build up confidence and inspiration, it could not be bettered. But with him it was entirely natural. It is not a coincidence that so many of his students went on to have prominent and successful careers. He was a lovely, wonderful, and inspiring human being, with a deep and playful intuition that has influenced an entire field - and will continue to resonate, I believe, for many long years.

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