Robert Maher, Newspaperman, Is Dead At 36

Former Pilot-Tribune, World-Herald Reporter Died Friday

Death came Friday to Robert M. “Bob” Maher, 36, well-known Blair and Omaha newspaperman since early manhood. Mr. Maher, long a victim of heart trouble, succumbed in an Omaha hospital Friday afternoon. His death, entirely unexpected, came as a shock to his family and friends.

Once local editor of Thomas T. Osterman’s Tribune, later in the same capacity with the enlarged Pilot-Tribune, Mr. Maher was well-known and liked by newsmen over eastern Nebraska, with whom he had a large acquaintance.

Robert Mark Maher was born in Blair December 20, 1903, son of James E. and Grace Maher. He attended the local schools, but when a high school student suffered a severe heart ailment which necessitated his remaining in bed three years, during which time, although under the care of a private nurse, he continued his studies.

He was graduated from Blair high school with the class of 1920, then went to South Bend, Indiana, where he completed his education at Notre Dame University. While a Notre Dame student he was a reporter on the staff of a South Bend daily newspaper.

Having completed his university studies, Mr. Maher returned to Blair in 1926 and went to work for The Tribune. He later joined the staff of the Omaha World-Herald, where he remained for some time. He also served as state editor of the Associated Press in Omaha, and for a time was employed at the office of the late Omaha Bee.

He was married to Miss Marie Mullen of Dunlap, Iowa, in that community in September, 1928. Soon afterwards they moved to Tekamah, where Mr. Maher was editor and publisher of the Burt County Tribune. Later he was a reporter with the Spencer, Iowa, Reporter and then with the Spencer News-Herald. He came back to Blair from Spencer to serve several years with the Pilot-Tribune. For a number of years he had been Blair correspondent for the Omaha World Herald, the Associated Press and the United Press.

Mr. Maher is survived by his wife, Marie; a son, Robert., Jr., 11; his mother, Mrs. Grace Maher of Blair; a brother, James, of Blair; and three sisters, Mrs. Reed O’Hanlon, sr., and Miss Margaret Maher of Blair and Mrs. John Leehy of Fort Calhoun. His father died in 1926 and two brothers, Roland and William J. Maher, in 1936 and 1938, respectively.

The body was returned to Blair to the Campbell Mortuary, and later was taken to the Leehy residence in Fort Calhoun, where the rosary was recited Sunday evening.

Funeral services were held at 9 a.m. Monday at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair, the Rev. Thomas Carmody officiating. Pallbearers were his brother, James Maher, and five nephews, Reed O’Hanlon, Jr., Clark O’Hanlon, Jr., and Robert O’Hanlon of Blair, and Robert and Richard Maher of Omaha. Burial followed in the Maher family lot in Holy Cross Cemetery here.

#2-14 Sept., 1939 - The Enterprise

RITES HELD MONDAY FOR ROBERT MAHER

Member of Well Known Blair Family Dies in Omaha

Robert Maher, thirty five years of age, died at the Nicholas Senn hospital in Omaha at 5 p.m. last Friday.

Robert was born in Blair, the son of the late James E. and Mrs. Maher. He grew to manhood in Blair, graduating from the Blair High School and later from a journalistic course.

After graduating, he was married to Miss Marie Mullen of Dunlap, Iowa, and they went to Tekamah where Robert purchased a newspaper. He ran the paper for some time, but later sold it and went to Spencer, Iowa where he was reporter on a paper for a term of years.

Later the family moved to Blair, where in connection with his work with the associated press, he wrote for the local papers.

He was a pleasing writer with an exceptional command of the English language and a peculiar style of journalism that brought him much attention.

One son, Robert, Jr., now eleven years old, was born to them, and with the mother, now residing in Omaha, grieve the sad loss of the husband and father.

Besides the wife and son, he leaves three sisters, Mrs. Reed O’Hanlon, Sr., and Miss Margaret Maher, both of Blair and Mrs. John Leehy of Fort Calhoun and one brother, James E. of Blair and the aged mother.

Funeral rites were held last Monday morning at nine o’clock from the local Catholic Church, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave #120677016