IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William F
Maher
March 18, 1925 – December 1, 2010
Obituary
William F. Maher, 85, of Front Royal, Virginia, a World War II veteran, outdoorsman, and retired executive, died December 1, 2010 at home after a long illness. He had lived in Front Royal for 16 years with his wife Maureen, who survives him. Bill was a transplanted Pennsylvanian who moved to Virginia after a long and distinguished career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He took great satisfaction in farming his Warren County land, learning the local history and climate, and enjoying his children and grandchildren. He was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church.
William Francis Maher was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on March 18, 1925. He grew up in New Castle during the Great Depression with his parents and four siblings. After graduation from New Castle High School, Mr. Maher joined the Army in 1943. He was tremendously proud to follow his brother Bud Maher and cousin Joe Maher in joining the service. In the Army he learned to pilot landing craft in preparation for the invasion of Japan and finished the war as a corporal. Mr. Maher returned to attend the University of Miami for a year on the GI Bill. He transferred to the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1950 and a law degree in 1953. In law school he was selected for the Law Review and the Moot Court Board.
Mr. Maher spent his professional career as a human resources executive with Westinghouse based in Pittsburgh, PA. Early on he was a technical recruiter for Westinghouse's Bettis Atomic Laboratory, which built propulsion systems for the Navy's submarines and surface vessels. He progressed through a series of more responsible leadership positions in human resources at various Westinghouse divisions in Pittsburgh. He later became an international human resources expert for Westinghouse, managing matters in Switzerland, London, South America, Africa, China, and many countries in Asia and advising Westinghouse executive management. He worked extensively with the United Nations International Labor Organization as a delegate from the United States.
After retirement, Bill married Maureen Lane and moved to rural Virginia. Throughout his life, Bill loved nature. In Front Royal, Bill and Maureen built their own home, where they planted pines and hardwoods and started hay farming. Earlier in Pennsylvania, he had studied landscape architecture in his spare time, served as a Shade Tree Commissioner of Upper St. Clair, PA, and planted oaks, maples, dogwoods, and yews on his property.
Bill was a lifelong outdoorsman. He and his family first visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore in 1959, and family visits continued for the next fifty years. Bill especially liked hunting with his brother and nephews and fishing with his son and other family members.
Bill loved family holidays and traditions and was always a gracious, warm host. He was known for decorating huge Christmas trees and making hot 'El Jefe' sauce for gatherings. Bill was a committed supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, although he followed the fortunes of the Virginia Wahoos in deference to his wife. He enjoyed poetry and music and read widely.
Mr. Maher's first marriage, to Sally Johnston of Pittsburgh, with whom he had three children, ended in divorce.
Immediate survivors are Mr. Maher's widow, Maureen Lane-Maher of Front Royal; children Marcia Geremakis (Perry) of Millstone Twp., NJ, William Maher (Michelle Berberet) of Alexandria, VA, and Michelle Maher (Robert Barnes) of Wexford, PA; and grandchildren Caroline, Alexander, Madeleine, Clair, Julia, Will, and Emma.
Calling Hours will be on Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 111 W. Falls St. New Castle.
The Funeral Mass will be held Monday, December 6, 2010 at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Maher was baptized as a child.
Arrangements are being handled by J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home, 111 W Falls St., New Castle, PA 16101, (724) 652-234.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork St., Suite 405, Winchester VA, 22601.
William Francis Maher was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on March 18, 1925. He grew up in New Castle during the Great Depression with his parents and four siblings. After graduation from New Castle High School, Mr. Maher joined the Army in 1943. He was tremendously proud to follow his brother Bud Maher and cousin Joe Maher in joining the service. In the Army he learned to pilot landing craft in preparation for the invasion of Japan and finished the war as a corporal. Mr. Maher returned to attend the University of Miami for a year on the GI Bill. He transferred to the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1950 and a law degree in 1953. In law school he was selected for the Law Review and the Moot Court Board.
Mr. Maher spent his professional career as a human resources executive with Westinghouse based in Pittsburgh, PA. Early on he was a technical recruiter for Westinghouse's Bettis Atomic Laboratory, which built propulsion systems for the Navy's submarines and surface vessels. He progressed through a series of more responsible leadership positions in human resources at various Westinghouse divisions in Pittsburgh. He later became an international human resources expert for Westinghouse, managing matters in Switzerland, London, South America, Africa, China, and many countries in Asia and advising Westinghouse executive management. He worked extensively with the United Nations International Labor Organization as a delegate from the United States.
After retirement, Bill married Maureen Lane and moved to rural Virginia. Throughout his life, Bill loved nature. In Front Royal, Bill and Maureen built their own home, where they planted pines and hardwoods and started hay farming. Earlier in Pennsylvania, he had studied landscape architecture in his spare time, served as a Shade Tree Commissioner of Upper St. Clair, PA, and planted oaks, maples, dogwoods, and yews on his property.
Bill was a lifelong outdoorsman. He and his family first visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore in 1959, and family visits continued for the next fifty years. Bill especially liked hunting with his brother and nephews and fishing with his son and other family members.
Bill loved family holidays and traditions and was always a gracious, warm host. He was known for decorating huge Christmas trees and making hot 'El Jefe' sauce for gatherings. Bill was a committed supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, although he followed the fortunes of the Virginia Wahoos in deference to his wife. He enjoyed poetry and music and read widely.
Mr. Maher's first marriage, to Sally Johnston of Pittsburgh, with whom he had three children, ended in divorce.
Immediate survivors are Mr. Maher's widow, Maureen Lane-Maher of Front Royal; children Marcia Geremakis (Perry) of Millstone Twp., NJ, William Maher (Michelle Berberet) of Alexandria, VA, and Michelle Maher (Robert Barnes) of Wexford, PA; and grandchildren Caroline, Alexander, Madeleine, Clair, Julia, Will, and Emma.
Calling Hours will be on Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 111 W. Falls St. New Castle.
The Funeral Mass will be held Monday, December 6, 2010 at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Maher was baptized as a child.
Arrangements are being handled by J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home, 111 W Falls St., New Castle, PA 16101, (724) 652-234.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork St., Suite 405, Winchester VA, 22601.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William F Maher, please visit our flower store.
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