- Date Of Birth: May 30, 1929
- Date Of Death: January 24, 2016
- State: Connecticut
Richard Newcomb (Dick) Maher passed away peacefully on January 24th, 2016 after a period of declining health. He was 86 years old. Dick was born on May 30, 1929 in Davenport, Iowa, the third of six children of F.D. (Bud) Maher and Jane Lane Maher. After graduation from Immaculate Conception High School in Cedar Rapids IA he entered the U.S. Army Air Corp, serving six years as a drill instructor and head of the Military Police at Lackland Air Force Base and in the Philippines during the Korean conflict. Upon his return he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Iowa. During this time he met the former Elizabeth (Betty) Zieser, who would become his loving wife of over sixty years. Dick is survived by Betty and by their five children, Mike (Julie) of Trumbull, CT, Ann (Gary) Gorton, also of Trumbull, Tom Maher, of Houston TX, Katie Maher of Stratford, and Patrick Maher of Fairfield. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Thomas, Megan, Christopher, Ryan, Emma and Kaitlyn Gorton, and by his sister, Gloria Fagan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his brother Jim Maher and his wife Rosemary of Overland Park, KS, his sister in law Jean Greif of Coggon, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers Denis, John and William. Dick began his long career with telephones during college, climbing poles in small towns in Iowa while Betty ran the local switchboard. After graduation he took an entry level engineering position with General Telephone of Illinois and was soon recognized for his talents. Dick was promoted to GTE headquarters in 1970 and he and Betty moved their family to Fairfield, where he resided for the next 45 years. He retired from GTE as the Director of Capital Recovery after a thirty-three year career.
