Arthur “Art” Raynes, 70, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, peacefully passed away on Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026, surrounded by family.

Born on Oct. 1, 1955, in Jersey City to Doris and Franklin Raynes, Art was raised in North Bergen, New Jersey. He graduated with high honors from Rutgers College, where he met his wife, Patricia Raynes, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree with honors from Georgetown Law School.

Admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1982, Art spent his entire 42-year career with Wiley, Malehorn, Sirota & Raynes, becoming a partner in 1985 and a name partner in 2007. He led the firm’s litigation practice, trying cases in state and federal courts in New Jersey and beyond, with a focus on commercial, personal injury, and employment discrimination matters. A longtime member of the Morris County Bar Association, he served on its Civil Practice Committee and chaired the Employment Law Committee. He was recognized as a Super Lawyer since the program’s inception and was named among New Jersey’s top 100 attorneys.

Art’s legacy is the Saturdays in Motion program he founded and led at the Somerset Hills YMCA for 34 years. He created the program for his middle son, William, who is on the autism spectrum. It has since grown into the longest-running non-public recreational program for children with autism in the United States, impacting thousands. Through his vision, teen volunteers, children with special needs, and families found connection, support, and belonging. A devoted member of the YMCA community, Art also served as a Branch Board member.

He loved spending time with his family, coaching his children's sports teams, cheering at countless swim meets, exploring museums and attending plays in New York City, sharing newspaper articles, taking family vacations and spontaneous day trips, and cherishing time with his grandson and dogs.

He was a lifelong Rutgers sports fan, attending numerous football and basketball games. He was also an avid reader, with a love for Shakespeare, poetry, Greek mythology, and history. He had a penchant for making impromptu speeches, especially among friends and family.

Art is survived by his wife, Patricia Raynes; his three children, Michael, William, and Stephen Raynes; his grandson, Arthur Raynes; his sisters, Ellen Raynes Berman and Sherry Raynes; his niece, Amy Pettigrew; and his nephews, Daniel Berman and Jonathan Berman. He is also survived by his two dogs, Moose and Ocean.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Somerset Hills YMCA with the designation Saturdays in Motion. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.