Richard Maher, 85, of Lena, passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Chicago, IL. Tip Off was on May 30, 1932 and he spent his 1st Quarter growing up in an ethnically diverse neighborhood near Wrigley Field. He learned to play basketball on the dirt court at Brands Park and played for Lane Technical High School until graduating in 1951. He joined the Air Force, where he specialized in photolithography, played on several squadron basketball teams, and had his first coaching experience.
"Dick" started his 2nd quarter earning a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in physical education and met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Deraita, in the hallway of Morgan Gym where she practiced playing the organ while he played basketball. They married in 1960 and moved to Arlington Heights and Palatine where Dick taught and coached. After earning his master's degree from Roosevelt University, Dick took the job of junior high principal and varsity boys' basketball coach for Lena-Winslow High School in 1970.
In his 3rd quarter, Dick transitioned from a coach on the bench to a parent in the bleachers. He enjoyed watching his children quietly during games, or while they shot in the driveway, with the best advice being to "have fun." When his children graduated, he returned to coaching, sharing his love of the game with many grade levels of Lena-Winslow boys and girls.
As a grandparent in his 4th quarter, Dick relished telling stories to his nine grandchildren about his life experiences, some true, some not -- and entertained them by singing the Lane Tech fight song.
After heart surgery in 2009, Dick put his game into overtime and his family enjoyed nine more years with him. In 2012 he coached an alumni game at the age of 80. He often said, "Without basketball, I probably wouldn't have graduated from high school or met my wife. I don't know what the hell would've happened to me, and that's why I have a picture of a basketball on my tombstone. The game did so much for me in life."
We'll shed some tears, cherish our memories, and remember he always told us that the cows will get milked and the sun will come up tomorrow.
He is survived by his wife Mary and children Christine (Scott) Hawkinson of Dodgeville, WI, Patrick (Victoria) Maher of Highlands Ranch, CO, Daniel Maher of Fayetteville, AR, and Michael (Diane Sandage) of Macomb, IL.
He is further survived by his grandchildren Lauren and Kylee Hawkinson; Blake (fiancée Sara Carter) and Kassidy Maher; Allyson (Glenn Goodrich lll), Thor (Katey Walsh), Atticus (Kiera Prim and great grandson Atticus Junior) and Jonah Maher; and Aaron Sandage.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Esther Maher.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lena.
A visitation will be from 4-8:00 PM on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Leamon Funeral Home in Lena, and again from 9:00 AM until time of services on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the church.
Rev. Father Andrew Skrobutt will officiate the services.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lena.
A memorial has been established in his name for the Lena-Winslow Foundation.
"Dick" started his 2nd quarter earning a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in physical education and met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Deraita, in the hallway of Morgan Gym where she practiced playing the organ while he played basketball. They married in 1960 and moved to Arlington Heights and Palatine where Dick taught and coached. After earning his master's degree from Roosevelt University, Dick took the job of junior high principal and varsity boys' basketball coach for Lena-Winslow High School in 1970.
In his 3rd quarter, Dick transitioned from a coach on the bench to a parent in the bleachers. He enjoyed watching his children quietly during games, or while they shot in the driveway, with the best advice being to "have fun." When his children graduated, he returned to coaching, sharing his love of the game with many grade levels of Lena-Winslow boys and girls.
As a grandparent in his 4th quarter, Dick relished telling stories to his nine grandchildren about his life experiences, some true, some not -- and entertained them by singing the Lane Tech fight song.
After heart surgery in 2009, Dick put his game into overtime and his family enjoyed nine more years with him. In 2012 he coached an alumni game at the age of 80. He often said, "Without basketball, I probably wouldn't have graduated from high school or met my wife. I don't know what the hell would've happened to me, and that's why I have a picture of a basketball on my tombstone. The game did so much for me in life."
We'll shed some tears, cherish our memories, and remember he always told us that the cows will get milked and the sun will come up tomorrow.
He is survived by his wife Mary and children Christine (Scott) Hawkinson of Dodgeville, WI, Patrick (Victoria) Maher of Highlands Ranch, CO, Daniel Maher of Fayetteville, AR, and Michael (Diane Sandage) of Macomb, IL.
He is further survived by his grandchildren Lauren and Kylee Hawkinson; Blake (fiancée Sara Carter) and Kassidy Maher; Allyson (Glenn Goodrich lll), Thor (Katey Walsh), Atticus (Kiera Prim and great grandson Atticus Junior) and Jonah Maher; and Aaron Sandage.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Esther Maher.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lena.
A visitation will be from 4-8:00 PM on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Leamon Funeral Home in Lena, and again from 9:00 AM until time of services on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the church.
Rev. Father Andrew Skrobutt will officiate the services.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lena.
A memorial has been established in his name for the Lena-Winslow Foundation.
Richard Maher, 85, of Lena, passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Chicago, IL. Tip Off was on May 30, 1932 and he spent his 1st Quarter growing up in an ethnically diverse neighborhood near Wrigley Field. He learned to play basketball on the dirt court at Brands Park and played for Lane Technical High School until graduating in 1951. He joined the Air Force, where he specialized in photolithography, played on several squadron basketball teams, and had his first coaching experience.
"Dick" started his 2nd quarter earning a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in physical education and met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Deraita, in the hallway of Morgan Gym where she practiced playing the organ while he played basketball. They married in 1960 and moved to Arlington Heights and Palatine where Dick taught and coached. After earning his master's degree from Roosevelt University, Dick took the job of junior high principal and varsity boys' basketball coach for Lena-Winslow High School in 1970.
In his 3rd quarter, Dick transitioned from a coach on the bench to a parent in the bleachers. He enjoyed watching his children quietly during games, or while they shot in the driveway, with the best advice being to "have fun." When his children graduated, he returned to coaching, sharing his love of the game with many grade levels of Lena-Winslow boys and girls.
As a grandparent in his 4th quarter, Dick relished telling stories to his nine grandchildren about his life experiences, some true, some not -- and entertained them by singing the Lane Tech fight song.
After heart surgery in 2009, Dick put his game into overtime and his family enjoyed nine more years with him. In 2012 he coached an alumni game at the age of 80. He often said, "Without basketball, I probably wouldn't have graduated from high school or met my wife. I don't know what the hell would've happened to me, and that's why I have a picture of a basketball on my tombstone. The game did so much for me in life."
We'll shed some tears, cherish our memories, and remember he always told us that the cows will get milked and the sun will come up tomorrow.
He is survived by his wife Mary and children Christine (Scott) Hawkinson of Dodgeville, WI, Patrick (Victoria) Maher of Highlands Ranch, CO, Daniel Maher of Fayetteville, AR, and Michael (Diane Sandage) of Macomb, IL.
He is further survived by his grandchildren Lauren and Kylee Hawkinson; Blake (fiancée Sara Carter) and Kassidy Maher; Allyson (Glenn Goodrich lll), Thor (Katey Walsh), Atticus (Kiera Prim and great grandson Atticus Junior) and Jonah Maher; and Aaron Sandage.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Esther Maher.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lena.
A visitation will be from 4-8:00 PM on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Leamon Funeral Home in Lena, and again from 9:00 AM until time of services on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the church.
Rev. Father Andrew Skrobutt will officiate the services.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lena.
A memorial has been established in his name for the Lena-Winslow Foundation.
"Dick" started his 2nd quarter earning a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in physical education and met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Deraita, in the hallway of Morgan Gym where she practiced playing the organ while he played basketball. They married in 1960 and moved to Arlington Heights and Palatine where Dick taught and coached. After earning his master's degree from Roosevelt University, Dick took the job of junior high principal and varsity boys' basketball coach for Lena-Winslow High School in 1970.
In his 3rd quarter, Dick transitioned from a coach on the bench to a parent in the bleachers. He enjoyed watching his children quietly during games, or while they shot in the driveway, with the best advice being to "have fun." When his children graduated, he returned to coaching, sharing his love of the game with many grade levels of Lena-Winslow boys and girls.
As a grandparent in his 4th quarter, Dick relished telling stories to his nine grandchildren about his life experiences, some true, some not -- and entertained them by singing the Lane Tech fight song.
After heart surgery in 2009, Dick put his game into overtime and his family enjoyed nine more years with him. In 2012 he coached an alumni game at the age of 80. He often said, "Without basketball, I probably wouldn't have graduated from high school or met my wife. I don't know what the hell would've happened to me, and that's why I have a picture of a basketball on my tombstone. The game did so much for me in life."
We'll shed some tears, cherish our memories, and remember he always told us that the cows will get milked and the sun will come up tomorrow.
He is survived by his wife Mary and children Christine (Scott) Hawkinson of Dodgeville, WI, Patrick (Victoria) Maher of Highlands Ranch, CO, Daniel Maher of Fayetteville, AR, and Michael (Diane Sandage) of Macomb, IL.
He is further survived by his grandchildren Lauren and Kylee Hawkinson; Blake (fiancée Sara Carter) and Kassidy Maher; Allyson (Glenn Goodrich lll), Thor (Katey Walsh), Atticus (Kiera Prim and great grandson Atticus Junior) and Jonah Maher; and Aaron Sandage.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Esther Maher.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lena.
A visitation will be from 4-8:00 PM on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Leamon Funeral Home in Lena, and again from 9:00 AM until time of services on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the church.
Rev. Father Andrew Skrobutt will officiate the services.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lena.
A memorial has been established in his name for the Lena-Winslow Foundation.
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