Samar "Sam" Kumar Ray

Dr. Samar “Sam” Kumar Ray passed away on August 1st, 2021 at the age of 79. Born on December 18, 1941, born second of eleven children, he was the first child amongst his siblings to graduate high school. Continuing on his path of academic excellence, he graduated college and medical school. He was a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, graduating with his MBBS, two fellowships under the Royal College of Surgeons in England and Scotland, and practiced medicine for over 40 years. He was employed with NHS (National Health Service) in the United Kingdom, with the Methodist Health system, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and was one of the originating practitioners/founders of Ortho-Nebraska. He and his wife Suchandra Ray were married for fifty-one years. He was father to Tina Ray and Gina Ray Hawley, grandfather to Kiran Patrick and Anya Ray Hawley, father-in-law to Christopher Hawley and Ezana Beyenne. Aside from the typical memorial speak, Samar was the kindest man. He was a very tolerant and wonderful father, and a fantastic husband. He loved his family with every fiber of his being. Samar was a warrior, a man who endured unprecedented racism and bigotry, as one of the first immigrants in the Indo-Pakistani mass migration to the United Kingdom and United States. He and Suchandra risked everything, the loss of their family, friends, and all that they knew to settle in countries that were less than hospitable, countries that viewed them as outsiders. However, he never lost his sense of identity and worth. Despite his seniority, Samar had to redo his residency and was placed with first-year residents who lacked the credentials and education of my father. While he studied for his boards, the family stayed at a one bedroom apartment across from Mutual of Omaha, and he passed on his first try, a rarity for foreign medical graduates at that time. Samar was a knowledge seeker, reading voraciously, always reading literature and videos to sharpen his skills as a surgeon. He worked hard…going to the hospital from 6 am to early/late evening. He was humble, despite his many accomplishments. He and Suchandra travelled all over the world. His laugh was infectious. As an avid Cornhusker fan, he bought his daughters Runzas and hot-chocolate while they froze in nose-bleed seats at Memorial Stadium…he loved to fish. Samar was an amazing father, husband, friend, and physician. He will always and forever be our inspiration. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be sent to Omaha Public Library Foundation. Private services will be held at Braman Mortuary and Cremation Services.