Together, Barbara Ray AAS ’74, MS ’84 and Sam Holcomb AAS ‘77 have dedicated 75 years of service to RIT. After receiving her degree, Barbara Ray began a 39-year career at RIT, retiring in 2013 as an associate professor in NTID’s American Sign Language and Interpreting Education department. Sam spent 36 years as an instructor at RIT, beginning in 1977 and retiring with his wife, also in 2013. During their time at RIT, the couple contributed to the books ASL at Work: A Guide to Working with Deaf Co-workers, and Basic Sign Communication: A Guide for Teaching Sign Language. Sam also contributed to the book: Deaf Culture Our Way: Anecdotes from the Deaf Community, a book that illustrates deaf culture. While teaching at RIT Barbara Ray contributed to several scholarly articles and sat on several committees. They include: the 17th Anniversary Planning Committee, the NTID Reunion Planning Committee, and the RIT American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Community Center Advisory Committee. Sam also instructed RIT presidents Al Simone and Bill Destler in American Sign Language upon their arrival to RIT. Upon retirement, the couple became active in efforts to preserve NTID’s historical materials, including in RIT’s archives and the forthcoming NTID Alumni Museum. Both served on the NTID History Committee and continue to stay engaged with the university after their retirements and have worked to deepen the historical records of NTID.

Meet The Holcombs