Raymond Albert Norman Beaugrand "Ray" Champagne of Upper St. Clair, PA, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved him dearly.
What you read below is one part of a life lived with quiet purpose.
Raymond's children carry forward what was given to them.
Raymond Albert Norman Beaugrand Champagne, known to all of us simply as Ray, lived in Upper St. Clair, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and passed away on 25 April 2026. He was born on 7 May 1938 in Concord, New Hampshire, and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. Ray was the second youngest of four brothers, all three of whom passed before him: Arthur, Monty, and Donald.
After his service on the USS Yorktown in the United States Navy, Ray continued his education while working, attending the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut. He went on to work in New York, Montréal, and Pittsburgh. He later explored the world through his career at SAE International in international relations, traveling to over 100 countries across six continents. He held senior responsibilities and directed major, groundbreaking international automotive and aerospace projects, working with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, and private-sector corporations, as well as public organizations such as NASA and the U.S. Department of Commerce, along the way forming friendships with remarkable people worldwide. He was also a long-time member of SAE International, remaining engaged with the organization for more than forty years.
Ray was endlessly curious. He read constantly, loved history and science, and believed learning was life's greatest joy. He was also a writer and kept a blog for many years, writing thoughtfully and carefully about the things that mattered to him. Even in his 80s, he continued taking university courses in ancient civilizations, music history, and European history.
He was proud of his French heritage and spent decades researching his genealogy, tracing his family from New England to Québec and back to France.
While maintaining a full-time career and raising three children with his wife and partner, Michele Champagne (née Russo), Ray spent nights and weekends learning French cuisine. He began as an unpaid apprentice at the Ritz-Carlton in Montréal under Executive Chef Pierre Demers and, over time, earned his place in the kitchen. He cared deeply about good ingredients and eating well, paying close attention to small details, including a particular fondness for a basic but often under-appreciated ingredient, freshly ground black and white pepper, which he insisted made all the di erence. His enjoyment of good food extended naturally to French wine, which he took pleasure in studying and sharing knowledge.
Music was another constant in his life. Ray played the trumpet and percussion, including bongos and congas, and loved Afro-Cuban music and jazz. He was also deeply drawn to classical music, especially Baroque works and German Lieder.
Despite the scope of his work and the many people he met around the world, family was what mattered most to him. He lived a private life and valued time at home over attention or praise.
As a father, Ray believed in honesty and responsibility and did not hesitate to give his children a practical reality check, always direct and no-nonsense. He loved his children and grandchildren deeply and was generous with his time, always there when they needed him. As a husband, Ray built a life with Michele that he held close, shaped by love over many years.
Above all, Ray lived with a sense of wonder. He never stopped exploring possibilities or learning.
Ray's legacy lives on through his children, Nicole Lento (Timothy), Suzette Champagne, and Jean-Marc Champagne (Jacqueline), and his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Allison, and Jean-Louis.
He will be buried in North Adams, Massachusetts.
Private arrangements were entrusted to Pittsburgh Cremation & Funeral Care, McMurray, PA.
