Henry Ralph Gundlach III

Henry Ralph Gundlach III of Crownsville died September 12 while being treated for complications from a lung transplant at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC.

“Hank,” as he was known to friends and family, was well-known in the Annapolis community, having served on numerous non-profit boards and working for many years as a financial adviser for several investment firms in Maryland.

Born on April 11, 1950 in Baltimore to parents Henry Ralph Gundlach II and Joan West Gundlach, he was the great-grandson of German immigrants and has a link to the Mayflower through his English maternal ancestors. Hank attended Woodlawn High School in Baltimore and received his bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology at Cornell University in 1972. He also received a Master’s of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1977 and pursued a doctorate degree at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Mississippi.

A devout Christian, he served in many capacities at various churches. He was an assistant pastor at the Vineville Presbyterian Church in Macon, GA, church pastor at the North Dallas Presbyterian Church in Texas and pastor at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, GA, where he retired from the ministry in 1986.

Hank then launched a second career as a financial adviser, working first for Legg Mason in Baltimore. He later joined Merrill Lynch in several locations, including Baltimore, Chestertown and Annapolis. In 2008 he became a financial adviser for Morgan Stanley in Annapolis, where he retired on Dec. 31, 2019 to prepare for a double lung transplant at Duke University on May 14, 2020.

Following his miraculous recovery from the transplant, Hank continued to lead an active life. With his wife, Catriona, he traveled to Europe and his favorite destination in Key West, FL. His frequent travels to Key West inspired the couple to remodel their entertainment room where they hosted theme parties for countless guests.

Hank volunteered for many organizations, including the American Cancer Society, where he served in various leadership capacities, including president of the Baltimore Chapter, Maryland Division development chair, and Maryland Division Crusade chairman from 1987 to 2000.

He also volunteered for the United Way of Central Maryland, and the Kent and Queen Anne’s County Hospital Foundation. Hank was a member of the Chestertown Rotary Club and was a substitute chaplain at the Heron Point Retirement Community.

When he moved from Chestertown to Annapolis, he attended Leadership Anne Arundel, Flagship Class 2005 and Graduate Program 2009. He went on to serve on several committee and eventually LAA’s board of directors from 2008 to 2014. He was its board president from 2012 to 2014 and received LAA’s President’s Award in 2011 for his financial commitment and effort to strengthen a struggling organization.

Hank was also a board member of the Bay Theatre Company from 2010 to 2014, where he served as board vice president. He also founded and chaired the organization’s advisory board.

He is a lifetime member and founding board member of Ready Chesapeake and board member of the Anne Arundel Chapter of the American Red Cross, where he served from 2008 up until his death.

A generous financial supporter, he has donated to Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry, Tunnel to Towers, Historic Londontown and Gardens, LAA, Bay Theatre, Kent and Queen Anne’s County Hospital Foundation, Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, Young Life and The Navigators.

He married his wife, Catriona Wardlaw, in 2015 on the island of Bermuda. He is survived by her; son Joshua Gundlach (Shasta) of Gainesville, GA; daughter Karen Gundlach Ertzberger (Michael) of Flowery Branch, GA; three grandchildren, Samuel and Jacob Gundlach, and Zachary Etrzberger; and sister Sandra Gundlach of Catonsville, MD.

Services will be private. Donations can be made to Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry at

https://p2p.onecause.com/chefscycle25/team/team-guntherandco