Ralph Graves

Ralph Augustus Graves was born on October 17, 1924, in Washington, D.C., to Elizabeth and Ralph Graves. His father was an editor for National Geographic magazine and The Washington Times. In 1937, his mother married Francis Bowes Sayre Sr., who was the last United States High Commissioner to the Philippines; during his tenure, the family resided at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, and Graves was a high school student at that time. During World War II, the family was evacuated from the embassy on December 24, 1941, to General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters in Corregidor, where they lived in underground bunkers until escaping to Australia by submarine in early 1942.

Graves served in the United States Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1945 during World War II, attaining the rank of sergeant. He later attended Williams College and subsequently Harvard University, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard in 1948.

In 1950, Graves married Patricia Monser; they had two children before divorcing. He remarried in 1958 to Eleanor Mackenzie, and this marriage also produced two children. Throughout his life, Graves lived in New York City and maintained a second residence in Sarasota, Florida.

Professionally, Graves was employed by Life magazine from 1948 to 1958, where he held positions including articles editor, assistant managing editor, and managing editor. He was the last managing editor of Life magazine, overseeing its final publication on December 29, 1972. After leaving Life, he joined Time, Inc., serving as senior staff editor and editorial director, among other roles.

In addition to his editorial career, Graves was involved with the Citizens' Crime Commission of New York, serving on its board. His writing career began in 1949 with the publication of his novel "Thanks for the Ride." His second book, "The Lost Eagles," was published in 1955; it is a historical novel centered on a fictional Roman, Severus Varus, searching for legionary emblems lost by Quintilius Varus at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

Following a hiatus during his time at Life magazine, Graves resumed publishing with "August People" in 1985. He authored "Share of Honor" in 1989, which details his personal experiences during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. His later works include "Orion: The Story of a Rape" (1993), a fictionalized account of the rape of his daughter in Manhattan in 1983, and other titles such as "Tables of Content" (1993), co-written with Eleanor Graves, "Martha's Vineyard: An Affectionate Memoir" (1995, co-written with Ray G. Ellis), and "Champagne Kisses, Cyanide Dreams" (2001).

Ralph Graves died of kidney failure on June 10, 2013, at his home in Manhattan.