Maurice A. Bittner

Maurice A. Bittner, age 83, of Gahanna, Ohio, formerly of Grafton, Ohio, died on April 21, 2012. Maurice is remembered for being a teacher, politician and musician. He was conversant in four foreign languages. He traveled extensively with his wife, Becky. Maurice was an U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean War, 1950-52. Maurice earned a B.A. (1954) and M.Ed. (1959) from Kent St. Univ. He did post-graduate studies at Indiana Univ. and Western Reserve Univ. He taught sixth grade at Windham Elem. Sch. (1954-55) and was a teacher and principal at Midview Sch. Dist. (Lorain Co.). He was superintendent of New Albany-Plain Local Sch. Dist. (1965-67). He was a curriculum specialist for the Franklin Co. Sch. Dist. for 13 years. He was an elementary principal of Johnsville School (Morrow Co.) from 1980-82. Maurice worked as a circulation assistant at the Capital University library in Bexley for 12 years before retiring in 1995. Maurice was a poet and had some of his poems published at Capital. Maurice composed music, including pieces for piano, a Song for Thanksgiving Day and fight songs for Northmor Junior High School and Capital University. He played oboe in the Kent St. Univ. orchestra and symphonic band. He sang in the Kent St. Univ. Glee Club. Maurice was a Lorain Co. Democratic Committeeman in 1956 and later elected as a Grafton village councilman (1958-62) and then mayor of Grafton (1963-65). He served 20 years as a city councilman in Gahanna (1972-79 and 1984-95) and 10 years on the Gahanna Planning Commission. Maurice is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sofia Rebeca (“Becky”); daughter Maureen Baumgartner (Todd); son Paul (Mindy), grandchildren Carmen (“Gabby”) and Luke, all of Gahanna; brothers Benjamin and Eugene Smith of Elyria, Oh.; John Smith of Birmingham, Oh.; sisters Carolyn McMoy of Keller, Tex. and Virginia Walker of Ft. Worth, Tex.; and preceded in death by brother Raymond Smith of Bedford, Tex.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 P.M. Thursday, April 26, 2012 at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church, 807 Havens Corners Rd. Father Theodore K. Sill, Celebrant. Entombment Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL, 614-939-4558. Gifts in memory should be sent to Capital University, Development Office, 1 College and Main, Columbus, OH 43209 or www.capital.edu/gifts-in-memory/. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.