Ralph Albert Gakenheimer, aged 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, colleague, and friend passed away at Newbury Court in Concord, MA, on June 17th, 2024. He was surrounded by his wife, Caroline (Bierer) Gakenheimer; his two daughters, Rachel and Katherine Gakenheimer; his niece, Karen O'Hagan; and Diana Greene.

Born in Baltimore, MD, on January 17th, 1935, he was the son of the late Albert and Doris (Bader) Gakenheimer.

Ralph grew up in Towson, MD, with his two younger brothers David and Martin and their black lab Chesapeake (known affectionately as Chessie). He graduated from Towson High School (where he was recently inducted into its hall of fame for his accomplishments during his illustrious career) and received his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Science from Johns Hopkins. Throughout his high school and college years, he helped out at the family pharmacy where he often worked as the soda jerk. He went on to get a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell and a PhD from UPenn.

After teaching for 7 years at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, he was offered a position in the department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT, so he and Caroline moved to Brookline, MA, where they raised their two children. Over a career at MIT spanning more that 40 years, he served as a World Bank advisor, and visiting professor at various universities, including The University of Paris XII, University of California Berkeley, and the Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota) as well as a visiting fellow at Balliol College, Oxford. He was also a Fulbright Scholar and chaired several committees, including The United Nations-appointed committee which oversaw comprehensive planning of the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

An avid tennis player and a dedicated cyclist, Ralph often rode to work at MIT and back, initially from Brookline and later from Jamaica Plain. He started slowing down only as he neared 80, opting not to play tennis and bike-commute on the same day.

In addition to traveling the world for work, he also loved to travel with his wife and family. He embraced new experiences with enthusiasm and curiosity and often returned with humorous and captivating tales from his journeys. He was a great storyteller! An amateur photographer as well, he captured countless memories—generally with the edge of one finger visible in the picture frame.

Ralph had a great appreciation for fine craftsmanship and for the arts. He was a skilled draftsman and woodworker, filling the family home with stools, bookshelves, and inlaid boxes.

He had the most generous of hearts and loved trying new things, always available to mentor, give guidance, lend a helping hand, or pick you up and drive you where you needed to go, even when it wasn't particularly convenient. And adventurous too! He would often pick the most unfamiliar meal on any menu, including Haggis in Scotland and whale meat in Norway. He was also very caring, which he often expressed by being willing to try out anything his kids were interested in, from reading books on linguistics and watching art films to taking courses in woodworking and sessions in the healing arts. Always ready with a toast to welcome friends, Ralph leaves a legacy of kindness, adventure, and love.

Ralph's spirit will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of his wife Caroline, his daughters Rachel and Katherine, his grandchildren Jesse and Vienne Begin, his brothers David and Martin, as well as an extended family and a rich community of friends.

Ralph's memorial service will be on Monday, July 8th at 2pm in Duvall Chapel at Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord, MA, with a reception following in the Great Room at 3pm. The live stream recording is available here .

Please RSVP to Rachel at rachel.gakenheimer@gmail.com or 617 549 8721 by Wednesday, July 3rd, if possible.

If you would like to contribute something in his memory, please consider Bikes Not Bombs , a charity close to his heart.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.