Alvin Maher - Obituary

lvin Michael Maher, Jr. Mike Maher, 85, a resident of Annapolis since 1990, died at home on November 29th of CNS lymphoma. He was born August 9, 1929, in Houston, TX to Alvin M. and Lucille Guillaume Maher. He received a BS degree from Tulane University in physics and did graduate work at the University of Maryland. During the Korean War, he flew F-86s and F-94Cs in the 84th Fighter Squadron, Air Defense Command, USAF. He had an accomplished career applying science to real world problems. As a government contractor, he developed the phased radar system found in naval warships today. He played a major role in the design and manufacture of the Pegasus satellites which gathered crucial data for NASA’s moon missions. He later established a major environmental testing laboratory and in 1970 became its President and CEO. At the US Dept of Commerce he led the design of the Industrial Energy Conservation Program which assisted the manufacturing sector in improving its energy efficiency, reducing the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. At Potomac Electric Power Company, he designed and implemented a load control program which contributed to cancellation of a major new generating plant. In retirement, he consulted with the Electric Power Research Institute on the introduction of electric cars. He was a past president of the Lindamoor Improvement Association, a member of the International Club of Annapolis and an associate member of the Class of 1953, USNA. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Patricia Spencer, and six children, Christopher M. (Kristine) of Alexandria, VA, Katherine (James Vivian) of Wellesley Hills, MA, Debra Baker of Manassas, VA, Wayne T. of Mandeville, LA, Robert P. (Melissa) of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Karina E. (Michael Kovac) of Pacific Palisades, CA, seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A brother, Robert E. (Sylvia) Maher of Metairie, LA, also survives him. Two previous spouses, Marianne Sprinkle and Renate Bettermann Matthews, and a daughter, Marion Susan, preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 30th at 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Salvation Army.