Gunter M. Lewin

Gunter M. Lewin passed away on May 1, 2015 in Dallas, TX. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Elizabeth (Peoples) Lewin (Dallas, TX), his son Brian D. Lewin and his partner Mark M. Mueller (Dallas, TX), his daughter Gayle E. Cantaffa (Howell, NJ), his daughter-in-law Anne C. Lewin (Lawrenceville, NJ), and grandchildren Dave B. Lewin, Jason R. Lewin and Kaylah E. Cantaffa.

He was born on January 12, 1931 in a small town in El Salvador called Sonsonate. He was raised in the capital city of San Salvador by his father Max M. Lewin and Else (Friedland) Lewin. His mother was a teacher and taught him first through the third grade at home. He entered a private Salvadorian school beginning in the fourth grade. After high school, which ended was at age 14, Gunter was sent to the United States in December 1945 to live with his uncle in Brookline, MA where he graduated from Brookline high school. He attended Northeastern University and graduated with a business degree. Gunter served in the Korean War. He moved to Brooklyn Heights in New York where he met his wife, Mary Elizabeth. They were married on April 13, 1957 in Swarthmore, PA. He was a graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia where he earned his MBA. Gunter and Mary Elizabeth lived in Claymont, DE for a few years before moving to East Brunswick, NJ in 1963 where they resided for 46 years. He was a member of The Unitarian Society of New Brunswick where he held several positions including Board President. He also volunteered with the East Brunswick High School Band Booster Association and served as a member of the East Brunswick School Board. Gunter enjoyed tennis and played in several groups. He worked at various fortune 500 companies including Gillette, RCA International and Scott Paper. In January 1994 he retired from Ortho Diagnostic Systems, a Johnson & Johnson company, after 28 years of service. He was the Manager of International Marketing Administration. After retirement, Gunter worked as an international trade consultant. He was an avid volunteer devoting his time and talents to many organizations. They include the East Brunswick Community Housing Corporation; as a member of the Raritan Valley College Center for International Business Education Advisory Committee; as a counselor for SCORE (Service Corps Of Retired Executives); as a member of the International Business Committee of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce; and as an admissions recruiter for Northeastern University.

After Gunter’s retirement, he and Mary Elizabeth travelled extensively including the Northwest U.S. and the Canadian Rockies, Alaska, Europe, Russia, Bermuda, Mexico, and many Caribbean islands. After a few years living in Freehold, NJ, he eventually moved to Dallas, TX. Gunter was a very caring man who loved his family unconditionally. He was a kind and gentle man who will be remembered for his hearty laugh and warm handshake.

A memorial fund has been established in Gunter’s name with the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org) for those who wish to make a donation.