Perennial Maryland gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidate Ralph William Jaffe passed away on Friday, Feb. 6.
The Pikesville resident and retired local teacher was 84.
A Baltimore native who attended Forest Park High School, Jaffe earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland. He also earned a teaching certificate from Towson University and a master’s equivalency certificate from Loyola College.
For decades, Jaffe taught political science and social studies in local private schools and in the Baltimore County Public Schools system.
Jaffe also volunteered at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In addition, he ran a free service for individuals needing transportation for medical appointments.
“I love helping people,” he told baltimoremediablog.org in a 2018 profile. “It is what motivates me every day, reaching to those in need.”
The outspoken, occasionally cantankerous Jaffe said he felt compelled to run for office frequently because of what he viewed as widespread corruption and a lack of ethical conduct in government. Throughout his numerous campaigns, he represented himself as a political maverick and outlier who refused to be indebted to or cowered by political party bosses, contributors or lobbyists.
In 2024, Jaffe, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully as a write-in presidential candidate.
“Since 2002, I have been leading the movement to try to put a stop to the moral bankruptcy that has pervaded Maryland government and replace it with real ethical reform,” he said in 2018. ”As a teacher, I believe the best way to teach is not by words, but by actions. Therefore, I use these political campaigns as a teaching methodology to point out the corruption in government. This is my sixth campaign for political office. I am not a politician, but if elected, I will serve. …
“I have not taken a dime in campaign contributions so I cannot be bought,” Jaffe said. “I am the only candidate committed to putting a stop to the phony career politicians or wannabe career politicians who are more interested in acquiring fame, power, money than serving the public. If I could get fair coverage from the morally bankrupt media in Maryland, I could probably get elected.”
In his spare time, Jaffe was a sports fan and enjoyed dogs and music.
Jaffe is survived by his sister, Freda Jaffe. He was predeceased by his parents, Eleanor and Irvin Jaffe.
Services will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Interment will be at B’nai Israel Cemetery, 3701 Southern Avenue in Hamilton.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to the charity of your choice.
The family will be in mourning at 11 Slade Avenue, Unit 203, in Pikesville immediately following interment.
When asked by Baltimore Fishbowl in 2018 about the best advice he ever received, Jaffe said, “You ever heard of Rush Limbaugh? He once said, ‘Follow your dreams, follow your passion.’ But here’s what I say: ‘Believe in your maker. He put you here for a purpose. Figure out what your purpose is and know it’s because your maker put you on this earth, to fulfill that purpose.’ That’s what you do.”
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