"Educator and public servant Mary Alice Gunter died of cancer Monday at the age of 69.

Gunter served as a Charlottesville city councilor 1982-86 and as president of the Venable Neighborhood Association 1978-79.

She lobbied for increased pay for Charlottesville teachers and city-sponsored daycare during her term on council, and helped integrate city schools during the 1970s when she worked as a teacher at Buford Middle School and assistant principal at Walker Middle and Charlottesville High schools.

“That was one of the things she was most proud of: working through the school system to make integration work and making the schools a better place for having integrated,” her son, Peter Gunter, said.

Diagnosed with cancer in 1992 when she served as chairman of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee, Gunter co-wrote the book, “What Can I Say? What Can I Do?” a guide to helping a loved one through a serious illness.

“You should never allow a loved one to spend a night alone in a hospital,” friend and fellow councilor John Conover recalled her telling him. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001.

Gunter received her doctorate in education at the University of Virginia, where she worked as an associate professor through the 1980s until retiring in 1992 from the Curry School of Education. Her surviving husband, Edgar, also taught at UVa.

Gunter received the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2003 from the Curry School.

Gunter wrote two mystery novels, “Murder in the Poe Room,” set at UVa, and its sequel, “Murder at the Lost Lenore’s,” recently published.

Former mayor and friend Nancy O’Brien said Gunter was deeply principled but fun to be around.

“She had strong personal convictions about equality, giving everybody a fair chance. She accepted everyone as they were; she loved everyone as they were,” she said. “It was always a pleasure when she called and wanted to do things with you.”

Her service did not go unnoticed by a younger generation, current City Councilor Kevin Lynch said.

“I really was very impressed by her,” he said. “She was an inspiration, as someone who really works for the neighborhood and who cares about Charlottesville.”

Gunter is survived by her husband, Edgar; her four children, Pamela Friedman, William, Peter and David; and five grandchildren.

Friends are invited to the Hill and Wood Funeral Home from 8 to 9 p.m. Thursday night. A memorial service and reception will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Gunter served as an elder.

In lieu of flowers, Gunter’s family asked that contributions be made to the Mary Alice Gunter and Edgar J. Gunter Jr. Scholarship at the Curry School." (John Yellig, The Daily Progress, June 8, 2005)

Contact John Yellig at (434) 978-7245 or eyellig@dailyprogress.com.