Nazareth Area School Board member Thomas Maher dies suddenly, district says

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

The Nazareth Area School District today mourned the sudden death of board treasurer Thomas K. Maher, who school administrators described as a “fiscal watchdog” and asset in the community.

Maher, 61, of Creekside Drive, Upper Nazareth Township, died Wednesday morning. He ran unopposed in the general election and was scheduled to be sworn into a four-year term during Monday’s school board meeting. He attended last week's board meeting.

An e-mail sent out to the district community by Superintendent Victor Lesky didn’t disclose the circumstances of his death. Arrangements are being handled by the Bartholomew-Schisler Funeral Home of Nazareth.

“Mr. Maher took his duties as a board member very seriously,” Lesky said this afternoon. “Tom felt an obligation to keep himself informed and up to date on all district activities. Tom's decisions were always based on the best interests of our students while maintaining the district's fiscal integrity. Mr. Maher's 12 years on the board made me a better superintendent of schools.”

Maher leaves behind his wife of 38 years, Debra, who works as pupil services director secretary in the district, and three sons -- Thomas III, of San Francisco, Daniel, of Bethlehem and James, of Nazareth. All three are Nazareth Area High School graduates.

Maher, a certified public accountant who holds an MBA, was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1971 to 1973, and a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Maher was employed at Sensient Cosmetic Technologies in South Plainfield, N.J.


He joined the school board in 1999, later serving as treasurer and chairman of the audit and finance committee, and served on various other district committees.


"(He) served proudly as treasurer on the Nazareth Area School Board; he simply believed strongly in fiscal responsibility, planning and open communication," James Maher, his son, said via e-mail.

During his time spent on the school board, Maher often cast the lone vote against various issues.


"We did have some differences and we looked at things differently sometimes," said school board member Linda McDonald. "I respected that and that will be missed. He was an important piece of the board."

Board member Darrell Crook said while Maher often was critical over issues before the board, he brought a fresh perspective.

"My feelings about Tom is it's a loss to the district and board," Crook said.

"I was looking forward to working with Mr. Maher," school board member-elect Chris Miller said. "He was extremely knowledgeable when it came to the budget. I will miss him."

Lesky said the board will have to appoint a new board member to fill Maher’s vacancy within 30 days. That person will be able to run in the next municipal election against anyone else who may file to run. Whoever wins the election would finish the remaining time left on Maher's original four-year term.

Maher also had served as part of the community advisory committee for the Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity. He was a member of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church. His family said his hobbies included reading, history, watching football and traveling. In 2010, he and Debra traveled to Paris for a week and frequently talked of returning.

“He said he'd like nothing more than a retirement where he could sit at a Parisian sidewalk cafe overlooking the Seine and play an iPad accordion,” James Maher said.

In listing his accomplishments on the board, Maher in a 2003 interview with The Express-Times cited fulfilling a promise to restore the public's confidence in the school board by making sure more information is posted on the district's website.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2011/11/nazareth_area_school_board_mem_1.html