Robert J. Gunther

Robert "Bob" Gunther, Jr., longtime educator and cable TV executive, died on December 15, 2018 from natural causes. He was 83 years old and lived in the Cub Hill area of Baltimore County with his wife Betty.

Mr. Gunther was born in Baltimore, the son of Robert and Frances Gunther, both of whom also were born in the city.

In 1953, Mr. Gunther graduated from Catonsville High School and later earned BA and MEd Degrees from the University of Maryland. He became a radio announcer/disc jockey in the late 1950's for stations WWIN, WCBM and WCAO using the name "Bob Granger."

He changed careers and became a teacher of English and Drama at both Sparrows Point and Patterson High Schools at which time he was elected President of the Maryland Speech and Drama Association. Besides directing plays at both schools, Mr. Gunther's acting credits included the roles of Claudius in a production of "Hamlet" at the the University Theatre at Maryland and John Proctor in "The Crucible" with The Vagabonds in Baltimore.

Mr. Gunther made another career move in 1970 when he joined the Maryland State Department of Education as an Administrator of Instructional Television working with Maryland school districts on the utilization of educational television programs in classrooms. He always considered himself foremost as a teacher. He taught classes in Instructional Television at the University of Maryland University College and Towson University and Public Speaking at Essex Community College.

Yet another career move occurred in 1993 when he retired from State service and took a position with Comcast Cablevision of Baltimore County as Director of Communications and Public Relations. While with Comcast, he became President of the Maryland Press Club. He established a format of TV interviews for Comcast with local and Congressional officials which carried over to his next job as Director of Communications and Government Relations with the Cable Telecommunications Association of MD, DE &DC. Mr. Gunther retired, finally, in 2010.

Mr. Gunther met his first wife, the former Janet Cross, while they were both teaching at Sparrows Point High School. She died in 2001 after 40 years of marriage. He was re-married to the former Betty Sander in 2011 whom he met at a Memorial Day picnic. In addition to Betty Gunther, Mr. Gunther is survived by his two daughters Tina Bennett and Kelly Leso, Kelly's husband Scott, three grandchildren, Kate, Jack and Kira, and a great grandchild, Wesley.

Mr. Gunther was cremated on December 19, 2018.

A celebration of Robert’s life will take place on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at Evans Funeral Chapel in Parkville. Friends may call between the hours of 11 AM-1:00 PM with a reflection of Bob's life to begin at 12 Noon. Contributions in memory of Robert John Gunther may be made to Lurman Woodland Theatre, ℅ D. Wasmund, 8 Osborne Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228.

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