Raymond John Bahm

Raymond John Bahm passed away peacefully at home in Ft. Collins, Colorado, in the late afternoon of Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, in his 88th year. His wife Linda and daughter Kiren were with him.

Ray was born April 11, 1938, in Lubbock, Texas, to Archie John Bahm, philosopher, and Luna Bachelor Bahm, mathematician. Ray and his younger sister Elaine spent early childhood in Lubbock, TX, and Denver, CO. The family settled permanently in Albuquerque, NM, when Archie joined the University of New Mexico Department of Philosophy in 1948. Ray and his grandfather helped the family design and build two different homes in Albuquerque.

Early on, Luna gave Ray a small radio to take apart. He became fascinated with things electronic, whether it was wiring his doorknob to deliver a small shock in hopes of keeping his little sister out of his bedroom strewn with wires and glass radio tubes, or working on the Highland High School audio/visual equipment or in its radio room.

In 1955, the family's life changed dramatically. Archie received a year-long sabbatical and Fulbright Research Scholarship to the University of Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), in Buddhist philosophy. The whole family moved to Burma for a year. Ray and Elaine were plunged into a new and fascinating world which changed their lives. (Luna subsequently wrote a book about the family's time there, "Hello, Burma.")

Back in Albuquerque, Ray majored in mathematics at UNM and completed his BS degree at the University of Arizona, Tucson. UA pioneered the first academic Systems Engineering program in 1961. A multi-disciplinary field, it brought together several disciplines to design systems based on solving specific needs. Ray leaped on this newly created academic field and used this approach throughout his life. An early project of his was designing and building a prototype cash register for grocery stores that would be more efficient, speedy and comfortable (ergonomic) for cashiers. He earned a Master's degree in Systems Engineering from UA in 1965.

Ray got to know Linda Weldy at the UA swimming pool. She was completing a Master's degree in Southwestern history. They were married on November 6, 1964, in Tucson—almost 62 years ago. From Tucson they moved to California where Ray worked for Philco-Ford, Palo Alto, and they avidly explored the streets of San Francisco and the beauties of Northern California. Returning to Tucson, Ray joined with several other grads of the Systems Engineering Department to develop a new entrepreneurial company named Markstems. He was a hands-on dad of his greatly loved newborn twins, Kiren and Alan. He delighted in designing and fabricating things for them including an efficient changing table, twin stroller, and backpack to carry two babies.

In 1973, upon returning to Albuquerque, Ray pursued his career as an independent consultant. New Mexico was filled with pioneering and passionate solar energy innovators and experimenters who were leading the way nationally in this new field. He quickly became an important part of this exciting movement—joining the New Mexico Solar Energy Association, serving as its president for two years, attending conferences and workshops, checking out domestic and commercial solar energy systems—and made many wonderful friends. Ray's primary interest was solar energy measurement, particularly in quantifying its amount and angle throughout the year in a variety of locations. He was granted a patent for a solar radiation measuring system in 1977, and in 1984 became a certified professional engineer.

Ray traveled widely, both in the US and internationally, for conferences and consulting contracts. He was instrumental in bringing the American Solar Energy Association annual conference to Albuquerque in 1998. Taking advantage of NM energy rebate programs, he asked his nephew Cary Lane— a solar systems entrepreneur— to design and install a photovoltaic system to provide all electric power for the household (which included charging a cherished Honda hybrid and later, a Chevy Volt) and even sold power back to the electric company. Ray also designed and built what was probably the first solar-heated cat house in Albuquerque for the family cats (whom he loved but was greatly allergic to) so they could stay warm outside safely at night.

Ray cared deeply about people and the world. He befriended a group of Burmese students at UA and learned how to cook delicious Burmese food. He was chosen as a delegate to a national issues convention in Philadelphia, "We the People," (2003) led by Jim Lehrer, anchor of the PBS Newshour. Ray obtained an Amateur Extra Class ham radio license (call sign N5IRC) and built a large, solar powered ham radio antenna in the backyard (the first of several antennas, which intrigued the neighbors). He participated in Albuquerque DX Association meetings and field day events, and made a point to visit other ham operators in China, Myanmar, Latin America, and Germany. He was a member of the Albuquerque International Association, studied Chinese and Spanish, and was a member of Albuquerque Spanish Toastmasters. He was a longtime Neighborhood Association board member and president. He formed a non-profit corporation—Lanza—to promote distance education via satellite TV in Latin America. (He also built a set of bagpipes and learned to play them, sort of.)

Ray loved his children and wife deeply and introduced them to so many new and good things. Birthday presents and Christmas presents from Ray were always marvelous surprises. He was (almost always!) unfailingly polite and appreciative to his caregivers. He got a secretive twinkle in his eye before making some sly observation. He was a kind man.

Ray loved New Mexico. He also loved Dr. Pepper, ice cream, surround sound audio, ham radio, travel, making new friends, cooking, parties, astronomy, photography, keeping up with world news, welcoming United World College students and other foreign visitors to our home, music, tennis, jazz, friends and relatives, family, his dog and his cats. He delighted in back-country drives to explore new areas. As his health declined, he became interested in the problems posed by noisy restaurants and poor acoustic systems in public facilities and joined the Albuquerque Hearing Loss Association, the Prostate Cancer Support group, and various Parkinson's support and exercise groups.

Ray is survived by his wife of 62 years Linda Bahm, daughter Kiren Bahm (Rik Bienvenue), son Alan Bahm (Hengyen Pan), grandson William Bahm, sister Elaine (Reed) Cundiff; nieces and nephews Cary (Lisa) Lane, Charlie (Susan) Cundiff, Elisa Cundiff (Alex Fout), and Piper Weldy (Kirsten Abildskov); grand-nieces and grand-nephews Brady Lane and Sonya (Matt) Foutch, Declan Cundiff and Edwin Cundiff.

A celebration of his life will be held in Fort Collins.

—We are so grateful to our relatives, friends, and Hospice professionals who helped us throughout Ray's nine years of Parkinson's and for the very special caregivers from Visiting Angels who took such loving care of Ray, and us. And especially for all the support, hands-on caring, and love from Linda, Kiren, Alan, and Rik. Thank you for helping us on this journey.