Richard Gunther ’48

Richard Gunther ’48 has always been the type of man who reaches for the stars – sometimes literally. Through his involvement with Friends of the Observatory (FOTO), Gunther played a proactive supporting role in the past renovation of the City of Los Angeles’ renowned Griffith Observatory.

Gunther recalls his own fascination with astronomy beginning at an early age with a visit to Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena. "I was absolutely dazzled and that began my interest in astronomy and science," he recalls.

After learning that the observatory would undergo restoration and expansion, Gunther offered FOTO his financial support, proposing that he and his wife, Lois, serve as primary donors to the project provided that the innovations would immerse youth in the educational importance of science and astronomy.

Now open to the public, the Richard and Lois Gunther Depths of Space gallery engages viewers in the evolution of how the universe has been perceived by humans.

While Gunther reaches for the stars, he also finds plenty to occupy him closer to home. In 2009, he received the Susan M. Davis Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grameen Foundation, a global microfinance and technology organization that provides assistance to the world’s poorest communities through financing, technology support and management strategies shared with their local organizations.

“It is gratifying to receive this award from an organization for which I have great respect,” he says. “As a child growing up in Los Angeles during the Great Depression, I learned early on that poor people have the will and ingenuity to help themselves, but need the opportunity to move ahead. Microfinance enables you to give them that spark.”

Microfinance is a system by which those most in need are able to borrow very small amounts to pursue business or educational ventures. Gunther first ventured into the field under the tutelage of Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, with whom he visited Bangladesh to get a first-hand account of the impact of microfinance. He has also traveled to China, India and Vietnam to see the life-changing effect of well organized microfinancing.

“Throughout his life, Gunther has been guided by the principle that the key to a fulfilling life lies within our ability to be of service to others,” says Alex Counts, president and CEO of Grameen Foundation. “He has been instrumental in catapulting Grameen Foundation from a tiny organization with a grand vision into the successful organization it is today, and we are indebted to him for his support in expanding microfinance and technology initiatives in poor communities around the world.”

Gunther continues his involvement with Grameen Foundation as a board member. He has served in leadership positions in local, national and international organizations concerned with social justice and peace for over 60 years. His memoir, How High is Up?: The Tale of a Restless Spirit (Emerald Book Company, 2009), discusses his journey of perseverance and success in the business world to a quest for excitement and self-discovery as he ventured around the world to sites including Mount Kilimanjaro. His tale recounts experiences of rehabilitation work in the slums of Israel and establishing a national program through AARP to recognize senior volunteers, narrating a life of service and work to “repair the world.”

Gunther’s lifelong dedication to helping others was recognized when he was honored with the UCLA Alumni Award for Community Service in 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCLA in 1948.