BOYER & COOL

Donald T. Mayer

Donald T. Mayer, 89 of Lorain died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Anchor Lodge Retirement Village following a long illness.

Mr. Mayer was born on August 4, 1917, in Valley City, Ohio and has lived in Lorain since 1950. He graduated from Baldwin Wallace with a bachelor of arts degree in 1939. After graduation he taught in the Sullivan Schools, Ashland County until he was called into the US Army for World War II. He served as Army band director until he was sent overseas. After returning from service he taught in Alger, McGuffy and later Archbold Ohio.

In 1950, Mr. Mayer moved to Lorain where he taught at Longfellow School from 1950 to 1961. He was transferred to Lorain Admiral King in 1961. He was the first vocal music teacher at LAK. After retiring in 1974, Mr. Mayer organized the Lorain County Retired Teachers' Tours and for 14 years the group traveled Canada and the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Mr. Mayer was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Elyria, where he was a member of the church choir. He was past member of Kiwanis Club and Senior Fellowship. He bowled in a league and was a member of the "Steelers" Bowling Team.

He enjoyed traveling, photography, pets, bowling and hook rug making.

Mr. Mayer is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lavina (nee Flood) Mayer, sister-in-law Helen Mayer of Jersey Shore, PA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents John T. and Lulu (nee Bleil) Mayer, brothers Lester, Oregon and Clarence Mayer.

Visitation will be 2 - 5 P.M. Thursday, March 8, 2007, in Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home for Funerals, 1124 West 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.

Services will be on Friday, March 9, 2007, at 11:00 AM in the First United Methodist Church, 312 3rd Street, Elyria, with Rev. Roger Talbott, pastor, officiating.

Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, 44805 North Ridge Road. Amherst at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 9, 2007.

Condolences

From: Joe Burchick
Relation: Former student at Admiral King

To the Mayer family:

My deepest condolences to you on the passing of Mr. Mayer. I remember him as a very nice man and a very excellent music teacher. May God give you strength and comfort during this time. Rest well, Mr. Mayer. God Bless.

Joe Burchick, Shreveport, Louisiana.
Admiral King class of 1970.

From: Donna (Apolzon) Glazier
Relation: Former Student

Dear Lavina Mayer,

I came across your deceased husband's obituary when I was looking for another person's. I often wondered what became of him. He was my homeroom teacher when I was in 7th grade at Longfellow Junior High in about 1951-52. I also had him for numerous other subjects as well as for music. As I have thought about my education in Lorain I had long ago decided that Donald Mayer was one of the best teachers that I ever had. I even thought of writing him a thank you note to tell him that, but I never did, and also I didn't really know where to send it. I also knew you because I attended the Delaware Ave. Methodist Church from around 1949 to 1956 before joining First Lutheran in Lorain. I remember that you played the piano and/or the organ at church. I want to express my sympathy to you in your loss even though it is belated. I want you to know that your husband was a very good teacher and I am at least one student who remembers him. I also remember you and your kindness to me at the Delaware Ave. Church. Your husband helped me to better organize my study schedule one year in 7th grade. He also let the class play with yo-yo's before the tardy bell rang and he wouldn't take them from anyone as long as we put them away by 9:00, when the bell rang. He even got a yo-yo and learned to do tricks with it. I think the whole class thought he was great for doing that. I guess he understood kids. He taught U.S. History, English, and other Social Studies classes and he always made the class interesting, and he was always fair and even tempered. I didn't sing well because I was so shy and so I didn't make the 9th Grade Choir. But then he needed more students and so I tried out again. I tried to sing the right notes. When I was done, he exclaimed with a smile, "Donna, that's the first time I ever heard you sing in tune!" And I got to be in the choir. He was just a good all around teacher, and I wish I could have told him that while he was living, which is why I wanted to tell you so you could be proud of him.