Mr. Maher was one of the most influential teachers I had. Always respected!! My memories are of an unnamed student (Randy you know who you are) passing gas everyday and Mr. Maher yelling his name and "OPEN THE WINDOW OPEN THE DOORS". The whole class was in an uproar everyday at least once because of it. Only my family and I will remember that Jerry came to my Graduation Open House and mistakenly gave me a Sympathy Card and I always wondered who he gave my Graduation Card to and how they felt. So today I get to return the favor.   CONGRATS JERRY MAHER!! YOU MADE IT!! SOME WONDERED IF YOU EVER WOULD!! God Bless P.S. I promise the windows are always open up there in Heaven.

Mr. Maher was initially my most feared teacher and yet then became my most influential and loved! After I moved up from his class he continued to visit my brother and I at our home to follow us and keep track of how we were doing.  Memories of writing the yellow pages, flying erasers, blow pops, his love for Detroit, sports and Notre Dame! I will always be his Shenandoah! So pleased I took the time to visit him at his home 5 years ago just wish I had another chance to see him one last time. My heart is crying. God Bless you and Rest In Peace!

Mr. Maher is one of my most memorable teachers.  He comes up in conversations many times when we from Queen of Hope School gather together.  Always inciting laughter and instigating a myriad of other stories that brings him into the room in a special way.  I ducked an eraser.

I was brought into my life, long, love of the Tigers and baseball in watching the 1967 World Series in Mr. Maher’s class.  It was just the other day I watched Game 5 for the first time since then, fondly remembering Mr. Maher’s wonderful gift, the gift of teaching.  I truly believe that great teachers are born, a God-given, talent, and advocation, that universities and boreds(sic ;-) of education bestow the license carry on.  God blessed Mr. Maher with this vocation.  He also granted Mr. Maher the indulgence of the Tigers winning the Series outside of school time in light of his demoniac advocacy of the Cards.

It brings tears to my eyes today as I read of his death, not that I will miss him because he will always be with us, but that I never was able to reach back and tell him that I am also a teacher of nearly 40 years.  It pains me most that I never got the chance to tell him, Thank YOU!  

Mr. Maher was an amazing teacher. My heart broke when I heard of his passing. What a legacy this man has left behind. Reading all the memories of the lives he touched warms my heart.  As my 5th grade teacher he left quite the impression and I will miss him dearly.

While I was not blessed to have Mr. Maher as my teacher, I certainly remember him from my years at North Aurelius Elementary in the mid to late 1970's.  He had a commanding, yet kind presence.

I graduated thirty years ago from Mason High, and had the pleasure of running into Mr. Maher many times here in town over the years.  He always had a kind word to say, and would share memories of the good old days from his years in teaching.

He leaves a rich legacy of students who revere him -- how wonderful.  May he rest in peace.

Jerome Maher was  best 5th grade teacher we ever had at Our Lady Queen of Hope in Detroit.  That said..the story. He had dropped out of High
School and joined the Army. On getting out of the service got his GED  landed in St Louis and started helping teaching in the inner city. 
Moved back to Detroit and talked his way into a job teaching 5th grade at Our Lady Queen of Hope. After 4-5 years being the best teacher and avoiding giving his' teaching credentials' to the Nuns , he got caught. He enrolled in College got his Degree. Moved to Mason . He organized 5th grade reunion picnics for us Detroiters while telling us how happy he was teaching in Mason. We are so grateful to share this Great Man with y'all.  Eternal Rest Grant him Lord and let Perpetual light shine on him 🙏

I was a 5th grade student in teacher Mr. Maher's first class at Our Lady Queen of  Hope, Detroit.  He arrived from the South just as the National Civil Rights movement was happening.  He showed us his own portfolio of black / white segregation  photos & told us personal stories of human discrimination & despair.  Detroit was already in motion toward its own race  riot (1967).  
Mr. Maher made me aware that the world & its problems are greater than my neighborhood & my little school.   
Years later,  as I processed out after my high school graduation (St. Marys of Redford, 1973), I spotted him in the rear of the auditorium, smiling at all of his "first students" of Motown.
God bless you,  Mr. Maher...

Mr Maher came to teach at Our Lady Queen of Hope in the mid 60's. He took over our 5th grade class, who just about no one could handle. We had many 300x "Speak when spoken to" papers to write that year and lots of chocolate covered ants to be horrified at! He sure whipped an unruly bunch into shape, and turned out to be the most beloved teacher we ever had! 
RIP Mr Maher ❤

JJ Maher was my 5th grade teacher at Our Lady Queen of Hope 67-68 year. Football and baseball at recess and after school, writing pages of the dictionary for detention, getting hit with an eraser from 40 feet in his classroom for talking, stories from his days in St. Louis....So many memories and stories that I could go on forever telling them. I mean, what other teacher held 5th grade reunions?  Knowing his generous nature, he'll probably be standing at the gates handing out his blow pops.  

Jerry was our neighbor on Peachtree  when we first came to Mason.
He was the welcome wagon, and would come to check on us and see how we were doing. We had many wonderful conversations about life, and teaching. He loved his students, and they loved him. 
How blessed we feel to have known Jerry and his beloved dogs. 
We will miss him very much. 
Rest in Peace!

So sorry to hear of this news...two doors down from me was a man I met twelve years ago that was an amazing soul. He used to walk his dog around the neighborhood stopping by to bring us fruit from trees in his yard. He always spoke of his teaching times and the joy that brought him...we spent several years dropping off goodies and helping with shoveling and making sure he didn't need anything...truly enjoyed our conversations and his presence will be missed on Peachtree Place as well as in many other places and hearts ❤️ RIP Mr. Maher 🙏

What an awesome  teacher! Flag football on the playground, blowpops, wiggling his ears, chewing his tounge. Could never forget him. He was definitely my most memorable teacher. 

The Converse shoes, Jerry biting his tongue, gifting ducks to my sisters and me, enjoying holidays with my family, Christmas cards that he got the year before with someone's name crossed out including the one cent stamps plastered all over the front of the envelope to make enough to actually send, frozen Halloween candy from 1 or 2 years prior, walking those wiener dogs down Peachtree street with a smile and a wave and that old ass car with rust that he loved so much. He was a beautiful person. And I am so sad that one of the best are gone. I'll see you again someday. 

Mr. Maher was my favorite teacher. He really cared about his students and made learning fun. Some of my best memories of him include playing football at recess, geography baseball with blow pops (suckers with bubble gum center) for the winning team, and his famous "Detroit river water" in a mason jar when he was thirsty.  What a great person! So sorry to hear of his passing.

Paul Singles, Mason Class of 1988.

Mr. Maher was my favorite teacher and one of the best friends I ever had. We reconnected in the 90's and would often visit each other through the years. He was a very special teacher and became a very special friend. Rest in peace, Jerry. I'll miss you. 

Who  could forget the blow pops and stories of Detroit River water? He had a way of including everyone, even one like me.

Blessed that he was part of my life

Mr. Maher was my 5th grade teacher. He was my favorite teacher, I would see him often and he always remembered me.  The dictionary, oh the dictionary he will be missed 😓. Lot's of great memories ❤️ RIP. Dana

Jerry was our neighbor for 23 years and taught a few of our children in the 5th grade @ Aurelius. May you rest in God’s peace now🙏

Mr Maher was my elementary school teacher he was alot of fun loved to play ball with us he would take us to tiger games great man he was a big influence on alot of us kids he will be missed 

A good man who cared about his students and never forgot them.   I asked my dad to come to parent-teacher conferences because I wanted him to meet Mr. Maher (my mom usually was the only one to go).   May he Rest In Peace.    

I don’t know where to begin. So many great memories with Mr. Maher.  Not only was he a great teacher but also loved to be involved with the kids during recess. Football and softball were so much fun with him playing with us. Even in the classroom he made it fun by playing map baseball with the winners getting blowpops. My 2 older brothers and older sister also had him growing up and we were always known as the Smitty’s. Even after graduation I made it a point to invite him to my open house in which he showed up. You made a big impact in my life and I know many others. Rest In Peace and know you will be missed. 

Mr. Maher was my favorite teacher of all time, and his connection with students may have been the primary influence for me being a teacher myself. He was more like family to me and my sisters. We invited him to our family gatherings, and he showed up to quite a few! We would honk when we drove by his house, and we would always wonder about his life outside the classroom. . I saw him just a few years ago and he was the same guy I always knew: funny, smart, sarcastic, witty. He will be missed by so many. It breaks my heart to know I won’t get to see him again. 

Mr Maher was my 5th grade teacher at north aurelius. A great memory which i will never forget was he would bring in water that he stated it was detroit city water. Another memory was if you got into trouble he would make you copy out of the Detroit yellow pages. Mr Maher was my favorite teacher of all time. He loved going outside to play quarterback during recess and giving away charms blow pops. Thoughts and prayers to his family.  Mr Maher will be missed dearly. I will never forget him he is a legend. 

Jerry was the best teacher and friend anybody could ask for.  He played football and softball with his 5th graders and we always had blowpop football on Fridays. He became a great friend over the years.  I just saw him a few months ago. You will be missed my friend. 

OBITUARY

Jerome John Maher

8 August, 1934 – 5 April, 2020

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services