Ralph Gomberg (June 18, 1921 – December 9, 2006) was the principal (first) oboist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 37 years (1950-1987). His brother Harold held the same chair with the New York Philharmonic for much of the same period (1943-1977). 　　Ralph Gomberg was born in the West End of Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of seven musically gifted siblings. The family decamped to Philadelphia so that one of the boys could study violin at the Curtis Institute of Music where they had heard students were admitted on merit and went tuition-free.