In Memoriam: Raymond A. Guenter, 92
Acting General Counsel, Chase Manhattan Bank
Raymond (Ray) A. Guenter, who served as acting General Counsel of Chase Manhattan Bank, died on December 8, 2024, at age 92, after a long courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Buffalo, he graduated from Syracuse University and Harvard Law School. He served two tours of active duty with the U.S. Army in 1958 and 1961-62. His first career was in New York as acting General Counsel of Chase Manhattan Bank.
Guenter also became a leader in the movement to reform the Democratic Party. Ray was elected Democratic District Leader of Chelsea, serving as such until 1973. There he met his wife, Doris Honig, a New York City social studies teacher. Together, they were going to "change the world". Guenter went to Mississippi to help organize the integrated Freedom Democratic Party delegation to the 1964 Democratic Convention and helped arrange the journey of that Party to the convention site in Atlantic City.
His second career unfolded in Connecticut, where he became General Counsel and Secretary of one of the country's top 20 bank holding companies, a position he held until his retirement in1994.
Guenter's love of teaching and writing led him to a third career, as a teacher of law at the University of Connecticut and Boston University Law Schools. He co-authored a book, Fundamentals of Insurance Regulation, and produced a number of law review articles. One, dealing with the law applicable on Indian reservations, led to his fourth career as practitioner of Native American Law.
Guenter was a die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills, NY Mets and UConn Women's basketball, a serious stamp collector, an avid poker player, backyard gardener and runner. At age 47, he ran the NYC Marathon in 3 hours and 30 seconds.
Among his survivors are his wife of 61 years, Doris Honig Guenter, Director Emeritus of the Women's Center of Central Connecticut State University; their son Joshua; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Jeremy.
Contributions in Guenter's name may be made to the Doris Honig Guenter and Raymond A. Guenter scholarship fund of Central Connecticut State University, and/or the Raymond and Doris Guenter Scholarship at South Park High School, Buffalo, NY (administered through the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo). A memorial will be held at a later date.