(L to R) Old buddies Marty Klein and Sam Raymond remember the "good ol days" when they started their companies.Both have since sold their companies and have retired.

Coonamessett Inn, Falmouth, Mass: Over 200 marine technology and oceanographic luminaries gathered to pay tribute to an industry great. Samuel Otis Raymond, 76, was honored by his 7-year Chairman, Steve Fantone. Fantone met Sam at 4 am in an airport 19 years ago, and Sam was the only one alert enough to hold a conversation – “that was some time ago and it’s been fun all the way.”
Sam graduated from MIT in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He became associated with Doc Edgerton while working on underwater products at EG&G. He started Benthos in his barn in Falmouth in 1962. Sam thanked all in attendance and honored many past employees and colleagues. With the expertise and energy of 750 employees (over the years), Benthos has grown from a barn-sized enterprise to a multi million dollar publicly traded corporation that is traded on the NASDAQ.
Sam has four children, who were represented by his daughter, Nixie. She ensured that no one walked away with any illusions about what it was like growing up with Sam as a father, stating “while most children are looked after by their parents, it was much different in our family. At a very early age we, as Sam’s kids, had to really watch out for him. Sam bungee-jumped, sky-dived, scuba-dived, and did all sorts of ‘out there’ things. He taught us to explore ideas, solve problems and pursue our dreams.”
WHOI Director Bob Gagosian lauded Sam for his impeccable character, values and work ethic. Klein Sonar Systems founder Marty Klein introduced himself as an “old retired engineer” who worked with Doc Edgerton and Sam at MIT. Marty thanked Sam for his friendship and unwavering mentoring during the startup of both of their companies.
Ron Marsiglio, the current president of Benthos, presented Sam with a pair of electronic image stabilized binoculars with which to view the world. Ron stated that before he met Sam, he had never known anyone whose mind was so un-grounded in this time and space. He stated that “Sam will always be the founder of Benthos -- no one can take that away from him.”
Another buddy, Jack Crossen of National Marine Fisheries Service, said that when Sam told him the name of his new company, he stated that the benthos aurous is a bottom dwelling fish that scavenges the sea floor for food, which “says something about how frugal Sam is.”
The first official employee of the Barn Crew, Jack Morris, stated that “no matter how tall you are you always look up to Sam.”
I was honored to be invited to attend and I wish Sam and his lovely wife happy trails in their around-the-world adventure. – Maggie Merrill