ROGER LYNDON GUNDER

1946 - 2021

ROGER LYNDON GUNDER, died peacefully Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at home with his family caring for him after an unexpected month-long illness which kept him hospitalized from April 29-May 24, 2021. Born Aug. 21, 1946 in Fort Wayne, Ind., Roger was a son of the late Lyndon and Joan Gunder and was the oldest of five boys. He attended North Side High School, University of Indiana, where he obtained an Undergraduate Degree in Sociology. He obtained a Master of Science Degree from University of St. Francis in Counseling Psychology and ultimately obtained a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Human Sexuality from the Institute of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. Roger loved academia.Roger was a quiet, unassuming man with a keen sense of humor, a great intellect with which he was always learning and a curious mind. His life was dedicated to the enhancement, well-being and service of others. He loved the beauty of nature and all animals, owning several cats, dogs, horses and birds. He loved music and played in a band briefly in college. Coming of age in Indiana in the 1960s, he was active in the Civil Rights Movement and began his long career of service at a middle school in an inner-city school in Fort Wayne. He spent the 1970s as a probation officer partnering with his beloved friend Dave Helmkamp, helping turn lives around. He was also an artist having inherited the gift from his father who was a trained artist. Roger's artistic forum was photography and many homes are graced with his visual eye of nature's beauty. In the 1980s, Roger moved to Florida continuing his work with the Department of Corrections as a probation officer in Martin County, Fla. until he moved to Lee County, Fla. Roger worked as a psychologist at the Hendy County Correctional facility until he opened a private psychotherapy practice with the specific focus of assessment and treatment of sexual offenders as well as provided investigations for difficult child sexual abuse cases around the state. For over 40 years, he helped hundreds of people regain a sense of dignity and purpose. Many of his patients would have otherwise been discarded by society. While not openly religious, Roger was more like Jesus than most. He always quietly wondered if "I did enough". He presented periodically around the state of Florida and was the force behind the development of the Florida Chapter of ATSA, Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. He was part of the founding board of directors and the Chapter's first president. As a member of a critical incident debriefing team out of Naples, he was a part of a team of clinicians who traveled to Oklahoma City after the bombing to provide crisis counseling to first responders and law enforcement. His work, as well as his art will live on years to come. He is survived by his three children, Jonathan (Brandi) Gunder, Hillary (Ben) LeMaster, and Dr. Meredith Gunder; all three of whom he considered his most significant gift to the world because of their unique individual accomplishments; their mother, Rebecca Gunder of Fort Myers; grandsons, Lukas Gunder, Micah Gunder and Jude LeMaster. He is survived by brothers Dennis (Jolynn) Gunder of Fort Wayne, Ind. and Cape Coral, Fla. and Curt (Jennifer) Gunder of Estero, Fla.; and eight nieces and nephews and several -greats. He was also preceded in death by two younger brothers, Gary and Gregory Gunder. Roger is most adoringly remembered by his other half, Mary Shorack, with whom he began his final avocation as an intern therapist more than 35 years ago while both were getting licensed. For years they were colleagues, business partners, and most importantly friends. In the later years, they became life partners sharing a home and family, and upon reflection both had tremendous influence on each other as parents. They are both incredibly proud of the family environment that they created with children Nathan, Jonathan, Hilary and Meredith. The joyous memories will continue A private service will be held for the family in late August. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope Hospice organization or any animal rescue organization. As Billy Joel sings, "only the good die young." RLG was good.