Erwin R Maurer

Erwin R. Maurer died on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at Harvest Hill Assisted Living and Memory Care in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He was born on December 9, 1923 in Manila, Philippines. He moved from the Philippines to Switzerland in 1939, where he attended high school and then graduated from the Technikum in Biel with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also served in the Swiss Army during WWII and annually until he left Switzerland.

After completing his secondary education in Switzerland, Erwin emigrated to Canada in 1950, where he met his future wife, Ella, at a Swiss Society Friendship Ball. They were married in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec, on June 21, 1954. After their wedding, the couple settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Erwin was completing his Master’s degree in Business Administration at Carnegie Mellon University. His first job was in Dayton, Ohio, for Frigidaire, where he worked until he heard about an exciting new company called IBM. He applied for a job in Fishkill, New York, and relocated there in 1957.

In addition to his full-time work at IBM, Erwin had many other interests and occupations, including designing, building, and maintaining his own home in Poughkeepsie; constantly repairing dozens of cars; building extensive gardens around the property; and felling many trees – to the dismay of his wife, who feared for his safety. He taught himself many new skills simply by being curious. He also launched a thriving tax preparation business and helped small business owners to succeed.

Family vacations were the highlight of Erwin’s year, and he would spend months planning the itineraries. These trips included memorable summers in Switzerland and the UK, and many camping trips around the US, including a winter trip to Florida in 1968 to see the Apollo 8 launch, the first to fly around the moon.

Erwin retired from IBM after 35 years, and he and Ella continued to travel extensively – mostly to visit family in Switzerland, Canada, and the UK. In 2014, after he turned 90, the family took him to Switzerland so he could see his beloved Alps one more time. He always urged his children to be “citizens of the world,” and to explore what is around the next corner.

In 2005, Erwin and Ella sold their home in Poughkeepsie, and moved to the Upper Valley in NH/VT to be closer to their daughters.

Erwin leaves his wife of 68 years, Ella; his children Heidi (Bruce), Tom, Helen Clark and Steve (Dolores), as well as his three grandchildren, Sam, Ed, and Emma. His surviving family also includes his nephews Ashley, Carman, Rory, Chris, Rob, and his niece, Susan.

Erwin was predeceased by his dear sister, Eleanor Rogers and his son-in-law, Dave Clark.

No formal services will be held at this time. A celebration of his life will take place at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Red Cross, originally founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH

To view Erwin’s Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.