Ralph Bunche - Marriage and Family

Marriage and Family

While teaching at Howard University in 1928, Bunche met Ruth Harris, who took a class from him. They married June 23, 1930. The couple had three children: Joan Harris Bunche (b. 1931), Jane Johnson Bunche (b. 1933) (later married to Burton Pierce), and Ralph J. Bunche, Jr. (b. 1943). At the time of his death, Bunche was survived by his wife, daughter Joan, son Ralph and three Pierce grandchildren. His wife later enjoyed three additional grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

On October 9, 1966, their daughter Jane Bunche Pierce fell or jumped from the roof of her Riverdale, Bronx apartment building; her death was believed to be suicide. She left no note. She was married to Burton Pierce, a Cornell University alumnus who was a labor relations executive, and they had three children. Their apartment was on the first floor of the building.