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Professor Maureen Ahern

Professor Maureen Ahern obituary

Maureen Ahern Obituary

AHERN Professor Maureen Ahern, of Columbus, Ohio died peacefully at home following a short illness on June 20, 2012, surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 14, 1936 to the late William C. Ahern and Veronica Thompson of Charlestown, New Hampshire. Professor Ahern was a 1958 magna cum laude graduate of the University of New Hampshire. She earned a Bachelor's and Doctorate degrees, both in Literature, from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru in 1960 and 1961, respectively. After many years of work and travel throughout Mexico and Peru, Professor Ahern returned to the United States in 1972 and became a Professor of Spanish at Arizona State University. From 1990 until shortly before her death, she was Professor of Spanish, Latin American Literature and Culture at The Ohio State University. Her marriage to Juan Maurer ended in divorce. Professor Ahern is survived by her children, Ursula Maurer (Scott Manders) of Falls Church, Virginia; Carlos Maurer (Daniela Korbilas) of Tempe, Arizona; Crescencia Maurer (Karl Stromayer) of Newman, California; four grandchildren, Evan Manders, Konrad Stromayer, Elise Stromayer and Ian Stromayer; and a sister, Patricia Ahern, of Charlestown, New Hampshire. Professor Ahern was blessed with, and much appreciated by many friends, students and colleagues. She was a member of St. Timothy Parish in Columbus. A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, June 23rd, at St. Timothy Catholic Church. Arrangements were by EGAN-RYAN NORTHWEST CHAPEL. Memorial donations may be made to the Zusman Hospice at Wexner Heritage Village, 1151 College Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43209.

Published by The Columbus Dispatch from Jun. 21 to Jun. 24, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
for Maureen Ahern

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I just heard from Susan that Maureen passed away. My condolences to her family. Since being retired, there are a few people that I worked with that I have really missed and have thought of fondly throughout the years and Professor Ahern was one of those people. She has been missed and will continue to be missed.

Tammy Jones

August 18, 2013

Dear family of Dr Ahearn\

I knew her at ASU when I was in my 20's, I am now 62. I was looking for her online to connect a beloved friend's Guatemalan daughter to her, and that is how I found out about her death.
What a shock death can be! We hope and assume those we admire and respect and love will always be available to us, but that is not so.
I offer you my deepest condolences. In my memory she is one on of my very favorite professors, full of passio and erudition.
To my surprise she was a Catholic. I was not one when I knew her but am now.
May all of our memories an tributes offer you some comfort.
Sincerely,
Anita Hatch-Miller

May 29, 2013

Más vale tarde que nunca, querida Maureen. Tú hiciste tanto por mí sin esperar nada a cambio, más que la amistad, el cariño, y claro, un infinito agradecimiento que va más allá de cualquier tiempo, vida o muerte. Gracias, Maureen, por haberte conocido y haberme compartido tu tiempo cuando yo más lo necesitaba.

Rocío Quispe-Agnoli

October 1, 2012

Profa, you were one of my best mentors & professors @ OSU. Thank you for sending me to the University of New Mexico, & for your beautiful heart! De la mejor gente en el mundo! =)

July 13, 2012

Gracias Profesora Ahern. It was an honour being on of your students.

Denisse Amaro

July 12, 2012

"Now cracks a noble heart. —Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!—"

(Hamlet, V.2)

Goodbye, beloved colleague, teacher, friend. How much you'll be missed is not possible to express in words.

Elizabeth Davis

July 7, 2012

Usted siempre será parte de nuestras vidas, la semilla que plantó en nuestros corazones perdurarà y dará frutos en su nombre. Soy muy afortunada de aberla conocido. Mil gracias.

Wendy Feliz

July 1, 2012

Es increible que ya se nos fue la Profesora Ahern. Mi primer maestra en OSU cuando regrese a la escuela como uno de los estudiantes mas viejos que el departamento habia aceptado hasta entonces. Siempre lista para apoyarme, no solo en aquella primera clase, pero por el resto de mi corta carrera como estudiante de graduado. Me miro terminar este diciembre pasado y no solo obeservando pero dirigiendo mi comite (quiza uno de sus ultimos). Sin su apoyo y "empuje" constante, no solo no me hubiera graduado, pero hasta abandonado las clases a medio camino, lo que casi sucedio despues de unas aventuras de mal gusto. Maureen (siempre Maureen para mi pues fuimos amigos) afectuosamente pero con su firmeza de costumbre me dijo "siempre hay manzanas malas en un huerto, pero eso no quiere decir que asi son todas". Obviamente tenia razon en esto como en tantas otras cosas. En fin, se nos adelanto un amor de mujer, que sera practicamente imposibe de remplazar pues como Maureen Ahern hay muy pocas en el mundo. Que afortunado me siento de haber cruzado su camino. Dios la guarde en su Santa Gloria para siempre. Con tristeza pero con inmensa gratitud y mucho, mucho afecto. Jesus Acosta-Hughes
The above is just a memory from one of her recent students about how this wonderful women and teacher touched my life during the last couple of years. I wrote it in Spanish just because it felt right to do so given that it was her preferred language among the two of us. My deepest condolences to the entire family.

Jesus Acosta-Hughes

June 30, 2012

Dear Ahern family,

I send my condolences to you in this time of grief. I have many fond memories of Maureen as someone who gave me guidance throughout my adolescence and as a graduate student at The Ohio State University. I would have liked to have attended her funeral service, but, unfortunately, I am too far away, in Santiago, Chile. I loved and respected her very much. I will miss her greatly. Much love to the Ahern family.

Eliana Davis

June 30, 2012

La noticia de tu fallecimiento nos emocionó a todos, pues nos vimos hace tan poco, a fines de octubre del 2011, en la conferencia homenajeando el centenario de José María Arguedas donde te encontrabas radiante. En una de las sesiones plenarias sobre su poesía diste una charla inolvidable recordando a José María junto con Alita Kelley y las poetas/profesoras Gladys Ilarregui y Consuelo Hernández. Disfrutamos mucho de tu presencia y yo estaba particularmente encantada de tenerte con nosotros, ya que nuestra amistad se data desde los 1980....

Silvia Nagy-Zekmi

June 29, 2012

Me alegro haber podido expresarte mi profundo agradecimiento por todo lo que por años hiciste por mi. En México en la UNAM, en el Archivo Nacional, cuando estaba en Vanderbilt, las cartas de recomendación, los consejos, y un largo, largo etc. Nunca voy a olvidar tu generosidad, tu sentido del humor y tu apoyo. Cada vez que usamos la vajilla de Puebla, Tatiana y yo nos acordamos de ti. Carlos Jáuregui, University of Notre Dame

Carlos Jauregui

June 27, 2012

Fond memories of working with Dr. Ahern at ASU. Prayers for all her family being said.

June 27, 2012

I would like to offer my sincerest condolences. Draw close to God during this difficult time and he will draw close to you. James 4:8

June 26, 2012

I was privileged to be one of Dr. Ahern's students. I benefitted not only from her vast knowledge but also her political commitment, humor and kindness. I will miss her.

sara provenzale

June 26, 2012

To Maureen: I'll miss my Phi Mu sister. Love in our bond, Jane (Brown)Rasmussen
To Maureen's family: Please know that I share in your grief.

Jane Rasmussen

June 26, 2012

Ah, Maureen, how I remember your boiled Irish tea and your laughter and your walks with your dear dog Max! Blessings to you, dear friend, and my condolences to your family.
Eliana Rivero

June 25, 2012

When I was a new hire in the Department of Foreign Languages, Maureen and I were both involved in a week-long workshop at Thunderbird. We drove there together and had dinner afterwards. She was a great colleague, especially for a newcomer.

Helene Ossipov

June 25, 2012

Time is seriously too short, especially when there is still so much to share and learn from one another. That is what will be missed. But I believe soon, we will see our loved one again on this earth in paradise. I strongly believe that God did not create us for our time to be so limited. Thus my hope is that God will fulfill His original purpose for us to live on this earth, and enjoy life forever with our dear one.

L Parkman

June 24, 2012

To the Ahern family, please except my condolencces at this time.

S- Pembrook

June 24, 2012

Since I attended high school with Dr. Ahern's kids in Tempe, Arizona, there was never a time when I wasn't welcome in their home. I'll always remember her great appetite for learning -- and teaching others, too, as well as her dedication to her children. You know what else I'll remember? Her amazing Oyster Stew; her New England roots were never far behind. I'll remember that and a house of very loved cats. What a force Dr. Ahern will always be, leaving behind a great legacy that impressed so many -- like me. That will always live on. My love & condolences to her family.

Deon Brown

June 22, 2012

Mis condolencias a la familia. Fue una gran persona y una
gran profesional.
Trinidad Barrera. Sevilla (Spain)

June 22, 2012

My deepest condolences. She was a great woman.

JORGE MACHÍN-LUCAS

June 21, 2012

My deepest sympathies to Professor Ahern's family. She was one of my favorite professors at OSU, gave me much help and advice on my PhD dissertation, and always greeted me with a friendly smile. Professor Ahern was a true scholar and friend, and I will always remember her.

Kevin Poole

June 21, 2012

My dearest Professor Maureen,

My deepest gratitude for the knowledge, the inspiration, and the constant smile. You will never be forgotten.

Hugo Garcia

June 21, 2012

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