John Francis Maher

AIKEN, SC -- John Francis "Jack" Maher, 75, died Monday, July 7, 2008 at his residence. A native of Flushing, NY, Mr. Maher was the son of the late John Francis and Margaret Caroline Feldscher Maher. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1952 to 1957. He was a retired air traffic controller. Mr. Maher co-founded the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) with the late Mike Rock. In October 1981, PATCO was decertified by the Reagan Administration / FLRA due to a nationwide strike. In 1996, Jack Maher re-formed PATCO. Maher’s history goes back to the early 1960’s as an original founder of PATCO and was highly respected throughout the labor community. Maher was the creator of the PATCO Registered Trademark logo. Mr. Maher was also affectionately known as Grandpa to many on the St. Mary Help of Christians playground where he demonstrated his selflessness during the years his grandchildren attended the school. He was a communicant at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Nickerson, Reidsville, NC, Ursula (Chris) Bethmann, Aiken, SC and Bernadette Lynn , Aiken, SC, five grandchildren, Kelley Nickerson, Patrick Nickerson, Brandon Bethmann, Elena Bethmann, and Rachel Lynn and a great-granddaughter, Taylin Jade Nickerson, a sister-in-law, Ursula (George) Sperry. Buena Park, CA, a cousin, Andrew Duro, Aiken and a niece Aileen (Joe) McTaggert, Aiken, SC and a number of other cousins, nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his brotherhood at PATCO. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Shellhouse - Rivers Funeral Home, 715 East Pine Log Rd., Aiken, SC. Interment with military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a scholarship fund, directed to the Aiken Partnership, USC Aiken, 471 University Pkwy., Aiken, SC 29801. Please visit the online memorial at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com . To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Francis Maher, please visit our flower store.