JOHN MAHER was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio,

and his family moved to St. Paul, Minn. when he was four years old. John died on April 18, 2009, at La Hacienda at La Posada, listening to his favorite Irish music.

He attended Harvard College where he wet a wonderful young woman. She was Norman Mailer’s sister, Barbara Mailer. John recalls going to a Harvard-Yale football game and knowing he wanted to see her again. They went to a dance and Barbara realized John was not much of a dancer, so they sat outside and got to know each other. John then went into the U.S. Army knowing that Barbara’s mother would never approve because John was not of the Jewish faith.

John then attended the University of Minnesota where he completed a degree in Journalism. He worked at the paper in Fargo, N.D. as a reporter, photographer and editor. John has been quoted as saying “I don’t recommend living there, but I do recommend the movie.”

John met his wife Mary and they had a cabin on Lake Agate in Minnesota. One day Mary had trouble swallowing and was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. They sold the cabin and she died six months later. John and Mary had six children. Four died in infancy, one son died at 17 in a motor vehicle accident, and a daughter, who had anorexia, committed suicide at 24.

John was reading an article about Charitable Remainder Trusts and learned that the former owner of land adjoining the north edge of Tohono Chul Park was going to be sold for a development. He spoke with the kind Joan Donnally and donated 11 acres in memory of his wife Mary. A plaque inscribed in her beloved memory is located at the Park. John encouraged others to participate as well.

One day John came across his Alumni Magazine and called Norman Mailer asking about his sister (about 60 years from their first encounter). Barbara had married, divorced, married and become widowed. John contacted her and they exchanged photographs. She then came for a visit and they toured the Grand Canyon, Bisbee and the Copper Queen Hotel. They remained in contact and John said she was “still the beautiful young woman to me.”

John went to La Posada approximately 17 years ago and also lived at La Vista and La Hacienda. Helmuth Froeschly started the Resort Report and when he got into a fight with Gary Gilman, he was asked to leave. Somebody drafted John and he became the Resort Report editor. His journalism background and having seen Presidents Harry Truman (during his campaign on the back end of a train called the Whistle Stop Campaign), John F. Kennedy (in Texas prior to his assassination) and President Johnson (who was Vice President at that time), prepared him for the diversity of being Resort Report editor.

John was an avid reader and wishes to donate his books to the library at La Hacienda. He wanted to thank everyone for the care and support he received at La Posada.

John requested to be cremated and have his ashes returned to La Posada.