A. Raymond Tye, Massachusetts Patron, Dies

A Massachusetts philanthropist who gave away millions of dollars to meet medical expenses for needy people and paid for the separation surgery of conjoined twins has died. A. Raymond Tye was 87.

Daughter Carol Rose says the former chairman of a beverage distribution firm died Wednesday at his home in Cambridge after battling cancer.

Perhaps most notably, Tye used money from his personal accounts and his foundation to pay for a 34-hour surgery that separated conjoined Egyptian twins in 2003.

More recently, in Boston in April 2009, Tye was one of two trustees of Boston Public Library who came forward with $55,000 to keep the Copley Square branch open on select Sundays as the library faced budget cuts.

The Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation says it's dedicated to funding in-hospital lifesaving treatments.

Sen. John Kerry mourns Tye's death. He describes Tye as a guardian angel who avoided the acclaim he deserved.

Tye is survived by a wife and four children.

His funeral is scheduled for Monday in Chestnut Hill. He'll be buried in Haverhill.