Dr. James L. Rae of Rochester, a retired professor Physiology and Biophysics and of Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic, died Sunday, December 24, 2023, at Charter House in Rochester, MN.

He was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on February 25, 1940. He received his B.A. degree from Graceland College and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan State University. He was on the faculties of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago before coming to Mayo Clinic in 1987. In 1985, he was a recipient of The Alcon Research Institute Excellence in Ophthalmic Research Award. In 1986, he received the Andre Balasz Award from the International Society of Eye Research for outstanding career in the visual sciences. He was a member of Graceland College's Athletic Hall of Fame and received that institution's Distinguished Service Award in 1989. Also, in 1989, he received a MERIT award from the National Eye Institute. In 2001, he was awarded the Jin H. Kinoshita Lectureship for outstanding research achievements by the National Foundation for Eye Research. Dr. Rae served as a member of the VIS-A Study Section at NIH from 1980-1984 and was a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Eye Institute from 1989-1993. He served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. He had been a member of Biophysical Society, International Society for Eye Research, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, A.A.A.S., New York Academy of Science, Sigma Xi, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

In 1962, he married Joan Bratcher. Survivors include his wife, a son Scott William Rae of Euless, Texas, a daughter Deborah Rae Fry (Steve) of Franklin, Wisconsin, two grandchildren, and a brother Ronald Rae of Detroit, Michigan area. He was preceded in death by a sister Rosalie Bowes.

The family wishes to acknowledge the help provided by Mayo Clinic Hospice and especially the teams of caregivers at Charter House.

Jim was a long-term survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was grateful for the physicians at Mayo Clinic who helped give him the opportunity to grow old, to see his children mature, to enjoy his grandchildren, and to indulge his love of golf and bluegrass banjo acoustic research. Jim died with family by his side and bluegrass music playing softly in the background.

In lieu of flowers, it was Jim's wish that donations be made to the donor's favorite institution supporting research and education.

The family will be planning a memorial gathering at a later date.