Ralph Robert Genter Jr
Ralph Robert Genter Jr was born in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, on 12 Sep 1933 and died peacefully of old age at 89 on 17 June 2023 in Gallup, McKinley, New Mexico. Ralph was the son of Ralph Robert Genter Sr and Maryanne (Margitan) Genter.
His father was a successful businessman who reportedly created the second-largest privatelyowned accounting firm in Michigan. Wanting the best for their children, but to their chagrin, the parents sent the boys to the Catholic military school Hall of the Divine Child and later to De La Salle Collegiate near Detroit. Following in his father’s footsteps, Ralph graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Detroit Mercy.
While studying accounting and playing flute and piccolo with the U. of D. marching band, Ralph met the vivacious and talented clarinet musician Gwendolyn Ann Martin. They married on 11 Jun 1955 and had four children; the marriage ended in divorce. Ralph later married Barbara Higgins (later Barbara Warwick), and though the marriage ended in divorce, they remained friends. He later spent loving and engaging time with partners Judith Ann Gordon and Gwen (Gay) McCloskey.
During the first year working for his father’s business, Ralph decided that accounting was not for him. His passion was photography, sparked by his serving as the class photographer for his high school senior yearbook. He soon began a productive and rewarding period working on photographic advertisements for Warren Winstanley. Wanting to be his own boss, he started Ralph Genter Illustrative Photography in Detroit with help from his father.
In the 1970s, Ralph pursued a spiritual journey, bringing him first to southern California, and then in the 1980s he discovered his spiritual home in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he remained. He studied astrology and astronomy and loved to explore the universe through his backyard telescope. His spiritual studies culminated in a book entitled “Accelerating Soul Evolution: Personal and Planetary”. Along with his most moving photographs and his love for his children, the book was his most rewarding achievement.
Through years of spiritual training and meditation, Ralph became a spiritually focused, calm, and kind person who did not take things too seriously. He loved to lead Sierra Club hiking trips in the mountains around Albuquerque. He was well spoken, articulate, curious, very intelligent, amazingly organized, very health conscious and fascinated with vitamins and herbs. He loved music and played flute, piccolo, guitar, and piano. He enjoyed horseback riding, giving small gifts, family picnics, and camping. His appearance was impeccable, and he seemed to have no bad habits. Although he did not support his children after leaving the family, he always wrote to them on their birthdays and at Christmas. He sometimes surprised his children by expressing deep understanding of what they were going through. Though people may have disagreed with his thinking, they would often say, “I like Ralph, he’s different.”
Ralph Jr was predeceased by his parents and brothers Don and Gordon; he is among the last of his generation. Ralph is survived by his four children Bob (Leila Bandar) Genter, Kathy (Tom Webb) Holley, Paul (Sue) Genter, and Lauren (Bob) Keith, four grandchildren, one stepgrandchild, two greatgrandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.
His passing was undoubtably a relief to him, allowing him to move to the next astral plane. Ralph’s cremated remains will be dispersed at two of his favorite natural areas in the mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico.