The Boston Bar Association mourns the loss of Raymond H. Young, Jr.—past president, transformative law reformer, and one of the most respected members of the Massachusetts bar—who passed away on March 19, 2026, at the age of 98.
For nearly 70 years, Ray devoted his life to the law. But more than that; he devoted it to improving the law for his clients, for the courts, and for generations of lawyers who would follow. A graduate of Yale Law School, he began practicing in 1950 and went on to co-found Young & Bayle in 1964, building a practice defined by both exceptional skill and deep humanity. He later joined Hemenway & Barnes LLP, where he continued to serve as a trusted advisor, mentor, and friend.
Over more than two decades, Ray spearheaded the bar’s efforts to modernize Massachusetts probate law,a task that required patience, persistence, and an unwavering belief that the system could be better. His leadership ultimately led to the passage of the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, followed by the enactment of the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code—landmark achievements that made the system more accessible to the public.
“What a difference enactment of those Codes has made to probate and to trust jurisprudence in our Commonwealth: clarifying and simplifying the law, making the costs far less expensive for the public, easing the burden on our courts, and bringing our complex and often unique jurisprudence into line with other States,” said former BBA President and former Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall.
Ray served as President of the Boston Bar Association from 1981 to 1982, where he championed legal services funding and strengthened the Association’s commitment to access to justice. Yet those who knew him best remember not only what he accomplished, but how he carried himself.
“Ray was a titan in his field, an inspirational BBA President, a good friend and mentor… and above all a consummate gentleman,” said former BBA President Gene Dahmen. “With his twinkly eyes and broad smile, he lit up every room he was in.”
That warmth and generosity left an indelible mark on generations of attorneys. Current BBA President Suma V. Nair reflected on encountering Ray early in her career. “As a young trusts and estates attorney volunteering at the BBA, I looked up to Ray Young,” Nair said. “Although he seemed larger than life due to his reputation as a skilled litigator, I remember him being soft-spoken, kind, approachable, and a stalwart mentor and sponsor of younger attorneys.”
Ray exemplified the very best of the profession: intellectual rigor paired with humility, influence paired with kindness, and achievement paired with a deep sense of responsibility to others. He believed in the power of lawyers and bar associations to make meaningful change, and he spent a lifetime proving it.
Beyond the profession, Ray was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, known for his generosity, humor, and unwavering support of those he loved. Whether accompanying his late wife Louisa to the opera or finding humor in even the most complex legal disputes, he brought curiosity and joy to every part of his life.
Chief Justice Marshall recalled Ray’s advice to her as she prepared to lead the Association: “There is much to improve: make a difference.” It was more than advice—it was a philosophy he lived by. Through decades of tireless work, he did exactly that.
Raymond H. Young, Jr. leaves behind a legacy that will endure—in the laws he helped shape, in the Boston Bar Association he led, and in the countless individuals who were better for having known him. He will be deeply missed.
Read Raymond Young’s profile that originally ran in the Boston Bar Journal
