Richard H. Maher, 93

Richard Harold Maher, 93, was born Aug. 31, 1927, to Joseph Maher and Josephine Kennedy Maher in Oakland, Calif. Rich was raised in Oakland and San Jose. He graduated from St. Leo the Great Elementary School and Bellarmine Prep High School and attended Santa Clara University and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. He graduated from Gonzaga in 1951. He also received a Master’s degree from Fordham University in New York City in 1960.

Rich began his many years of teaching, counseling and administrating in private schools, and then with the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 1967, he married his beloved Ilene, who worked in hematology and blood banking at both LA County/U.S.C. Medical Center and Santa Clara County hospitals.

Rich’s first position was at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Calif., and finally at John Burroughs Junior High School in Los Angeles, retiring from there in 1988.

So began a whole new life for Rich and Ilene. In 1988 they moved from their 20-year home in Malibu to Tahoe Donner Resort in Truckee, Calif., where they built their retirement home. Living at the 6800 foot level in the Sierra Nevada mountains was a breeze for these two strong and healthy adventurers.

It took 12 years, but the snow finally got to them. Rich’s bi-pass surgery and Ilene’s scoliosis reminded them that they couldn’t keep it up forever. So, amid a lot of tears, they left their beautiful mountain home for the flatlands of Sparks, Nev. It was OK, but no trees and no water for the boat. They began looking elsewhere; finally deciding to join Ilene’s sister in the great Northwest.

They weren’t exactly strangers to the Northwest, since Ilene was born in Montana and raised in Montana and Washington, and Rich had spent three years in Spokane while attending Gonzaga.

Settling in Coeur d’Alene was a delight after the high desert. For 14 years Rich and Ilene never regretted the move north. Rich had his golf; Ilene had her garden.

Ilene’s death in October 2016 interrupted a somewhat idyllic existence, but Rich carried on fairly well with the help of dear friends, relatives and neighbors; but now is his time to join Ilene and family and friends in the hereafter.

He leaves behind his wonderful cousins, Gigi and John DuBois, and dearest friends, Nancy and David Conley, Sharon and Joe Lind, Nick and Heather Patrick, Donna Quane, and other kind neighbors. He was predeceased by his brother, Jim Maher of Ventura, Calif. He leaves his niece, Laurie (and Paul) Maher and nephew, Joe (and Alicia) Maher, and niece by marriage, Paula Demmer. He will never forget his grandnephews James, Richard, Thomas, Sean and Ryan.

We will end with Rich’s prayer from Thomas Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. “What matters is what or how much I suffer so as I may at length attain to the haven of safety. Grant me a good end; grant me a happy passage out of this world; remember me, oh my God and direct me in the right way to Thy kingdom. Amen”

Service details are pending. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Rich’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com