Julie Mae Schinke Rai

Julie Mae Schinke Rai, age 85.9 years, of New Orleans, LA, left her earthly form on June 10, 2021 at East Jefferson Medical Center surrounded by family. She was born on July 19, 1935 in Nashotah, Wisconsin. She was the third child of Julia Maude Eagle and Orville H. Schinke. She was passionate and unstoppable in all endeavors she took on in life. She grew up a country girl in the upper peninsula of Michigan, where she fondly remembered her time attending a one-room schoolhouse in the town of Perkins, where she first got her spark for teaching. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1957, initially studying Physical Education but intently and devotedly landing in Mathematics education. She later went on to complete a Master’s degree at Louisiana State University - New Orleans in the late 1960s. While at MSU, she met her partner for all of life’s adventures, Gurbachan Singh Rai. The two soon eloped on December 27, 1954 in East Lansing, Michigan. They had three children, Kashi (1956), Lily (1960), and Nanak (1964). She fondly remembered the several times she was able to travel to India to enjoy the company of her family-in-law, whom she adored and was embraced in return. She and Gurbachan moved from Michigan to Augusta, Georgia in 1960, and went on to settle in New Orleans in 1964. They soon bought a house in Pines Village in New Orleans East, where they lived until it was devastated in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After that, she went on to purchase and undertake a full renovation of a house in uptown New Orleans near her children and grandchildren, where she and Gurbachan both lived the rest of their lives.

Julie led an impassioned career as a mathematics educator for over 30 years, inspiring a generation of kids and older learners in the wonders of math. She loved puzzles, and she approached teaching math with an investigative lens, putting together different pieces to help each student unlock their potential. She especially loved to teach those who “weren’t good at math”, and find ways to help them think differently so they could solve problems in a way that made sense to them. She taught at the middle school level for many years in New Orleans, at both Livingston and Fannie C. Williams schools. She also taught college-level courses at both University of New Orleans and Dillard University. She served as Academic Games coach for many years, and was named as Outstanding Educator at the Academic Games Leagues of America National Tournament in 1981. Later in her career, she moved from teaching students directly in the classroom to teaching other teachers how to effectively teach mathematics. She did this work through involvement and funding from local and national organizations, primarily National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and Greater New Orleans Teachers of Mathematics (GNOTM). She even co-authored a mathematics textbook during her career. She eventually “retired” and focused her math teaching on her two favorite and adoring pupils, her granddaughters. She never tired of anything related to mathematics, and even had her youngest granddaughter solve math problems to get her birthday presents. Her children and grandchildren will never see a tangram without warmly thinking of her. She embraced a bonus career after retiring from education, to manage her daughter Lily’s veterinary clinic, where she did everything from bathing dogs to setting up inventory databases. She had too many talents and endeavors to possibly list, but will be remembered as a life-long learner, and someone who embraced and relished in new projects and ideas.

Julie was intensely adoring of and devoted to her family and extended family and cherished any opportunity for family activities, including several years serving as her daughters’ Girl Scout troop leader and regularly attending a biennial Hennessy family reunions for many years. She was adored and will be greatly missed by so many, and will be remembered for her passion, unstoppable determination, bravery, and sharp wit. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Kashmir “Kashi” K Rai (William R Crosley), Lilajit “Lily” K Rai (Shedrich "Shackey" Brooks), and Nanak S Rai (Patricia Nicewander), her granddaughters Komal Brown (Keegan Brown) and Julia Rai, her sister Nancy Brandel, her sisters-in-law Marjorie Schinke and Kathy Brandel, and so many wonderful and cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family. She is predeceased by her husband Gurbachan S Rai, her sisters MaryJane “Janie” Schinke and Darlyne Miller, and her brothers Orville S. Schinke, Johnny Schinke, and Bill Brandel, and many other beloved family members. A celebration of life will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, 8012 Oak Street, New Orleans, LA on July 10 from 3-7pm, refreshments provided and many fond memories to be shared. Please call or text Lily Rai for more information or to RSVP, 504-343-1631. Donations may be made in her honor to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Mathematics Education Trust (MET) Fund or the Louisiana Nature Institute.