Capt. George Lawrence Maier, a retired merchant marine officer who in later life was the Liberty ship John W. Brown's master, died of lymphoma Tuesday at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Guilford resident was 80.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he received a Bachelor of Maritime Science degree at the New York State Maritime Academy at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., and immediately started sailing. He also served in the Naval Reserve and retired as a lieutenant commander.
He met his future wife, the former Colleen Gordon, aboard the American Planter. She was a New Zealand-born exchange student who taught deaf children in West Virginia.
He joined the United States Line and made 45 round trips to Europe on passenger and cargo ships. He received a company award in 1950 for helping direct the North Sea rescue of two fisherman, one of whom survived.
"There is only one good month on the North Atlantic. From January to March, you get storms. From April to June, fog. July is the good month. From August to October, you get hurricanes. November is fog. December is storms. Then you start over again," he told Ernest F. Imhoff, a John Brown shipmate.
Captain Maier also said: "I have never gotten seasick, the sea has never bothered me," and added, "I can't swim. Oh, I can paddle."
He sailed for 12 years as an officer and then worked in management for U.S. Line -- and moved to Baltimore nearly 33 years ago -- retiring the first time in 1981. He then became general manager for Maher Terminals and worked until 1987.
In 1992, he became involved with Baltimore's Liberty ship, the John W. Brown. He was initially third mate and often chipped paint on the World War II-vintage vessel. He later became the ship's captain and made trips on the Chesapeake Bay and to Florida and New England.
He was a past Propeller Club and Steamship Trade Association president. He was Port Man of the Year.
A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at the Basilica of the Assumption, Cathedral and Mulberry streets.
In addition to his wife of 53 years, survivors include a son, Dr. George Maier of Gastonia, N.C.; two daughters, Beth Reis of Coral Gables, Fla., and Jane Holt of Severna Park; a brother, Robert Maier of Lynbrook, N.Y.; four sisters, Mary Emilio of Smithtown, N.Y., Kathleen Schmidt of Gaithersburg, Patricia Hopkins of Los Angeles, and Mary Alice Spero of Middle Island, N.Y; and eight grandchildren. A son, William Maier, died in 1981.
Jacques Kelly