ROCKPORT — It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Walter Ungerer, 88, who died peacefully on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine.

Walter was born on August 26, 1935, in New York City to Irene (Baudach) and Max

Ungerer from Germany. First and foremost, Walter was an artist (as well as a great basketball player!). He began his college studies at the Pratt Institute in New York City, where he received a BA in Fine Art. From there he went to Columbia University, earning a Master of Arts and progressing to the doctorate level. At that time his initial focus was painting and ceramics, but he became interested in film, took classes and then taught at Columbia. As his film career began, which spanned over fifty years, he became a fixture in the Village and underground art community of New York City.

Due to his support of a student group protesting against the Vietnam War, Columbia ended his teaching contract before he could be awarded his PhD. In need of work, he ended up in Vermont, teaching film and photography for some time at Goddard College. Walter loved Vermont; teaching film at a variety of other colleges, including at the University of Vermont.

Walter produced a few documentaries on subjects he cared about. During his many years in Vermont, he made several longer experimental narrative films. Lack of funding and a curiosity about the creative potential for video and the computer were an incentive for him to switch to making much shorter computer-generated works. These could be likened to a difference between prose and poetry, shooting with digital cameras and working with computer software. He continued with his original intuitive approach, with a predilection for the themes of nature, earth, the unknown and the unknowable. He moved to Maine in 2003, to live with his partner, Dianna

Walter’s beautiful short films resulted from many hours spent at his computer, piecing images together and marrying them with wonderful sound effects and music. He became a master editor. His work has been shown at many venues, colleges and art galleries, with great acclaim at home and internationally. Walter’s films have truly become ‘film as art’.

Walter lived a very full and rich life, always with humility and kindness. A friend recently said, “Walter was such a gentle and generous spirit, and such a passionate and compassionate human being, that everyone with a heart would soon come to like him.”

He loved his family and was always adamant about keeping in touch with everyone, including with family in Germany.

Walter is preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Max, and younger brother Richard Ungerer.

He is survived by daughter Anna Melen and husband Matt, grandchildren; Mason, Lukas and Kaleb, by Anna’s mother, Jennifer Hart; his first wife, Kathryn Davis.

He is also survived by sister Edee Caristo and her husband Bobby; sister-in-law Valerie Ungerer, and nieces Melissa Creighton and Dorothy Ungerer, and great nieces and nephews.

He will be missed terribly by all, especially by his partner, Dianna, and their beloved dog, Bowie.

He wanted just a simple cremation, though the family plans to have a celebration of his life at a later date.

If you’d like to make a donation in his name, then please make it to a charity of your choice, to one that you think will make a difference.

To share a memory or condolence with Walter’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.