- A
- C
Welcome friends, family and colleagues of Robert Maurer. And a special welcome to Bob’s new friends who we hope to reach through this campaign aimed at creating rich and meaningful opportunities for students and families to experience the arts during the school day and through events hosted within the community.
Robert Maurer spent a career of over five decades advancing the arts in New York State and across the United States. Bob passed away unexpectedly on October 23rd 2016 with many of the projects he was working on unfinished. Please help us reignite his passion for music, theater, dance and the visual arts for new generations of children and families in his name.
Thank you for visiting and for making even a small gift in the honor of my father and his life of service that ended too soon. You can learn more about Bob’s legacy by reading the Albany Times Union article honoring his work and checking out the reflections and pictures included on this campaign page. You will also learn more about our plans to use the money raised from this campaign in service of the projects that meant the most to him.
Stay tuned for updates to follow and please don’t hesitate to post questions or to contact me for more information.
In gratitude and love,
Adam Maurer (and Louise and Michael too)
Bob Was Here
A shorter version than he would have told
Bob was always on a mission. Those who knew and loved him always knew it, but so did the thousands who saw the big bold Bob Was Here campaign signs that he joyfully distributed while campaigning against an incumbent for a position he knew he would lose. It was about getting things done for him, raising awareness and finding a way to get the right things done for the people. At his funeral he was described as one of the last to live a "noble life of public service." He proudly served under three governors, Rockefeller , Cuomo, Pataki , and for the benefit of the people of the State of NY -- this was his life's work.
Bob started from humble beginning, paid his way through college and graduate school and became a teacher. His time in the classroom fueled a passion to reform the system and raise standards: better teachers, computers in the classroom and a connection to beauty and excellence that comes from communities connected to rich cultural experiences. For the most part, Bob's childhood didn't include art, music or theater. He connected with the magic later in life and wanted to share it with others.
Bob left the classroom for a position on the staff of a New York State Senator and soon became the Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Education; a job during which he led the NY State Museum and State Library System. His passion for getting things done was contagious and it led to new exhibits and the Imagination Celebration, a statewide curriculum through which students were asked to create, plan and engineer contraptions of their imaginations to improve the world. It might have been an early precursor to what we call STEAM today.
Bob also worked with local communities to create performing arts spaces (big ones like Artpark in Western NY, the Egg in Albany and smaller ones too where everyone has the chance to try their hand at Shakespeare). In the mid 1980's, Bob was promoted to the role of chief operating officer for the NYS Department of Education and during his tenure he developed school curriculums that highlighted the arts and cultures of indigenous peoples worldwide and partnered with Lincoln Center to improve teacher training in the areas of art and culture.
Later, he continued his work through AmeriCorps, where he introduced the fine arts into the lives of recovered drug addicts volunteering to help other users recover from a life of addiction. And one of his greatest and most lasting contributions is his sponsorship of programming in 30 states that pairs students with mentors as they begin their journeys to select educational opportunities after high school.
Bob's contributions were many, and although he was never too boastful, he also was never shy about telling you about what he had accomplished either. Maybe he was trying to show others what was possible through effort or to inspire others to share in the joy he gained from a life of service. Bob had a vision for a positive future and he wanted all of us to come along with him.
In the last years of his life, almost the proverbial energizer bunny, he continually started new projects that he mentored others to lead. He spent months of the year in China, Serbia and Croatia teaching education leaders how to make higher education more accessible and relevant to the jobs of the new economy. He started to do the same work at home through private consulting projects while also bringing Tony-Winning Producers and world class musicians to adult education programs in South Florida.
Bob kept the programs coming and now that he can’t, it is our turn.
Our Opportunity
Bob mentored, befriended and touched the lives of so many. Thank you to all of you who helped us to celebrate"a life well lived," often in service of others, at the end of October. My hope is that his story will also touch the lives of new friends through this campaign and our work in his memory.
For Bob, arts education programs were his fuel. It was an opportunity to introduce someone new to the renewal, joy, celebration of diversity and community unity that is achieved through the arts. Let’s join together and take what fueled Bob and ignite the next generation of children and families who love and connect with the arts.
Led by his wife Louise , herself an educator with over 30 years experience in the classroom, we're collecting donations in Bob's honor to advance existing high quality arts education programming that will ensure that Bob's love for the visual arts, classical music, theater and dance is ignited in the generations that follow.
Thank you for your support for this important cause in the memory of its advocate of five decades - Robert James Maurer. We will follow up and provide ongoing progress updates to anyone who donates so that you can see the impact of your gift at work.
Additional Details
Monies collected will be used to support arts education programs. Naturally, the full reach of our work will be dependent upon the success of this campaign. Please know that every dollar received will be donated to a school, registered nonprofit or foundation operating within the continental United States - with a focus on programs serving children and families in South Florida.
For more information about me, Adam Maurer, as the host of this campaign, please check out my LinkedIn profile . If we are not connected already then I would love to add you to my next work of friends and colleagues.
Robert Maurer spent a career of over five decades advancing the arts in New York State and across the United States. Bob passed away unexpectedly on October 23rd 2016 with many of the projects he was working on unfinished. Please help us reignite his passion for music, theater, dance and the visual arts for new generations of children and families in his name.
Thank you for visiting and for making even a small gift in the honor of my father and his life of service that ended too soon. You can learn more about Bob’s legacy by reading the Albany Times Union article honoring his work and checking out the reflections and pictures included on this campaign page. You will also learn more about our plans to use the money raised from this campaign in service of the projects that meant the most to him.
Stay tuned for updates to follow and please don’t hesitate to post questions or to contact me for more information.
In gratitude and love,
Adam Maurer (and Louise and Michael too)
Bob Was Here
A shorter version than he would have told
Bob was always on a mission. Those who knew and loved him always knew it, but so did the thousands who saw the big bold Bob Was Here campaign signs that he joyfully distributed while campaigning against an incumbent for a position he knew he would lose. It was about getting things done for him, raising awareness and finding a way to get the right things done for the people. At his funeral he was described as one of the last to live a "noble life of public service." He proudly served under three governors, Rockefeller , Cuomo, Pataki , and for the benefit of the people of the State of NY -- this was his life's work.
Bob started from humble beginning, paid his way through college and graduate school and became a teacher. His time in the classroom fueled a passion to reform the system and raise standards: better teachers, computers in the classroom and a connection to beauty and excellence that comes from communities connected to rich cultural experiences. For the most part, Bob's childhood didn't include art, music or theater. He connected with the magic later in life and wanted to share it with others.
Bob left the classroom for a position on the staff of a New York State Senator and soon became the Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Education; a job during which he led the NY State Museum and State Library System. His passion for getting things done was contagious and it led to new exhibits and the Imagination Celebration, a statewide curriculum through which students were asked to create, plan and engineer contraptions of their imaginations to improve the world. It might have been an early precursor to what we call STEAM today.
Bob also worked with local communities to create performing arts spaces (big ones like Artpark in Western NY, the Egg in Albany and smaller ones too where everyone has the chance to try their hand at Shakespeare). In the mid 1980's, Bob was promoted to the role of chief operating officer for the NYS Department of Education and during his tenure he developed school curriculums that highlighted the arts and cultures of indigenous peoples worldwide and partnered with Lincoln Center to improve teacher training in the areas of art and culture.
Later, he continued his work through AmeriCorps, where he introduced the fine arts into the lives of recovered drug addicts volunteering to help other users recover from a life of addiction. And one of his greatest and most lasting contributions is his sponsorship of programming in 30 states that pairs students with mentors as they begin their journeys to select educational opportunities after high school.
Bob's contributions were many, and although he was never too boastful, he also was never shy about telling you about what he had accomplished either. Maybe he was trying to show others what was possible through effort or to inspire others to share in the joy he gained from a life of service. Bob had a vision for a positive future and he wanted all of us to come along with him.
In the last years of his life, almost the proverbial energizer bunny, he continually started new projects that he mentored others to lead. He spent months of the year in China, Serbia and Croatia teaching education leaders how to make higher education more accessible and relevant to the jobs of the new economy. He started to do the same work at home through private consulting projects while also bringing Tony-Winning Producers and world class musicians to adult education programs in South Florida.
Bob kept the programs coming and now that he can’t, it is our turn.
Our Opportunity
Bob mentored, befriended and touched the lives of so many. Thank you to all of you who helped us to celebrate"a life well lived," often in service of others, at the end of October. My hope is that his story will also touch the lives of new friends through this campaign and our work in his memory.
For Bob, arts education programs were his fuel. It was an opportunity to introduce someone new to the renewal, joy, celebration of diversity and community unity that is achieved through the arts. Let’s join together and take what fueled Bob and ignite the next generation of children and families who love and connect with the arts.
Led by his wife Louise , herself an educator with over 30 years experience in the classroom, we're collecting donations in Bob's honor to advance existing high quality arts education programming that will ensure that Bob's love for the visual arts, classical music, theater and dance is ignited in the generations that follow.
Thank you for your support for this important cause in the memory of its advocate of five decades - Robert James Maurer. We will follow up and provide ongoing progress updates to anyone who donates so that you can see the impact of your gift at work.
Additional Details
Monies collected will be used to support arts education programs. Naturally, the full reach of our work will be dependent upon the success of this campaign. Please know that every dollar received will be donated to a school, registered nonprofit or foundation operating within the continental United States - with a focus on programs serving children and families in South Florida.
For more information about me, Adam Maurer, as the host of this campaign, please check out my LinkedIn profile . If we are not connected already then I would love to add you to my next work of friends and colleagues.