While I cannot say I agreed with all of his politics, American politics must be about greater things than factionalism, we must be humane in our treatment of each other, and I must commend Senator Gunther for his 40 years of service to the State.
Each man carries with him his flaws and his prejudices, our families are left as survivors after us, and he was loved by his friends and family. A greater Bridgeport institution, Stratford and Shelton's representative in the State Senate will long be remembered for his down to earth qualities. He was first elected in 1966, and was my State Senator in the year of my birth, as I lived in Stratford at the time.
His biography is impressive, having lived in a rarified circle of influential politicians. He was a neighbor to Republican Governor Baldwin and was strongly opposed to Thomas Meskill, who made one bad decision and paid for it with his career.
Well certainly Senator Gunther was there long enough to understand the folly of power. Why some may disagree with our positions on things, we are not strong individuals if we merely go with the current. He evoked a passion for politics and while certainly he was of a different era in the Connecticut GOP, who is to say he had no impact on our lives.
I often wondered why he wasn't still in service to our state up to his death, as wisdom, continuity of service and experience are usually more important than passing fads of these times. But there you have it, each of us, left to ponder our tiny moment of existence.
