In Memoriam: Chet Raymo

Professor Emeritus of Physics Chet Raymo, who taught and inspired countless students across nearly four decades of service to Stonehill College, died on January 25, 2026. He was 89. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Maureen, and their four children, Maureen, Dan, Margaret and Tom. 

The esteemed scholar was raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he spent many evenings stargazing from his front porch. This early fascination with astronomy sparked a lifelong devotion to science and education.   

“Chet Raymo was a highly influential figure during the College’s formative years. His innate sense of curiosity, paired with a remarkable generosity of spirit, profoundly shaped Stonehill. Through his teaching and writing, he encouraged students, colleagues and readers to cultivate a lifelong love of learning. I am deeply grateful for the enduring impact he had on our campus and the broader community,” said Rev. John Denning, C.S.C., president of Stonehill. 

Raymo completed a Bachelor of Arts in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He went on to earn a master’s degree in physics from UCLA and returned to his alma mater to complete a Ph.D. in physics. 

Raymo joined Stonehill’s faculty in 1964. A deeply engaged member of the campus community, he served on the Rank and Tenure, College Council, and Academic committees; directed the Faculty Development program and pre-engineering program; and chaired the Department of Physics. He was a decade-long columnist for The Summit, Stonehill’s student-run newspaper, and a contributor to The Cairn, the College’s literary magazine. 

Described in the fall 1999 issue of the Stonehill Alumni Magazine as possessing “the intellect of a scientist, the imagination of a storyteller, and the soul of a poet,” Raymo had a meaningful impact on students and colleagues alike. His outstanding contributions to Stonehill earned him the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching (1989) and the College’s Moreau Medallion (1998).  

Beyond the classroom, Raymo was a renowned writer. From the 1980s through the early 2000s, he wrote more than a dozen books on science and nature. His work has been widely anthologized, including in the Norton Book of Nature Writing. He received a 1998 Lannan Literary Award for his nonfiction writing.  

Raymo also authored several novels, including The Dork of Cork (1993). This international bestseller was adapted by Raymo and Ronan O’Leary into a screenplay for the movie Frankie Starlight, starring Anne Parillaud, Matt Dillon and Gabriel Byrne.  

Raymo’s weekly column, “Science Musings” appeared in the Boston Globe from 1983 to 2003. When the column ceased publication, he continued offering his reflections on science and humanity via his personal website.  

In tribute to his mark on literature, Stonehill established the Chet Raymo Literary Series in 2001. This annual event brings significant writers of poetry, fiction or nonfiction to campus to share their work and speak about the art of writing. The series has welcomed distinguished luminaries including poet Seamus Heaney (2004), playwright Tony Kushner (2009), author Ross Gay (2021) and United States Poet Laureate Ada Limón (2024), among many others.  

“Though it’s been many years since Chet Raymo retired from Stonehill College, he has remained deeply woven into the fabric of our campus,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Ubertaccio. “Combined with his gift for storytelling, his insights into science, nature and religion brought enlightenment to so many. As we mourn his loss, we take comfort in knowing that our community benefited greatly from his presence here. We offer our deepest condolences to all who knew Chet.” 

A memorial service honoring the life and legacy of Chet Raymo will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall.