John Philip Mayer

John Philip Mayer, age 85, formerly of Riverview, Michigan, passed away peacefully from congestive heart failure at his residence in Valparaiso, Indiana on September 10, 2024.

John was born on May 10, 1939 in Canton, Ohio to Philip Henry and Margery Grace (née Moodey) Mayer. His family moved frequently due to his father's job with the YMCA-living in Chicago IL, Kansas City MO, and Glendale CA where he graduated from high school. In 1961, he married Karen Eileen Davis; they divorced in 1999.

John attended Oberlin College from 1956-1960 and received Master's (1962) and Juris Doctor (1964) degrees from Columbia University. After a brief time working at a private law firm, he dedicated his life to court administration. He worked at the Ohio Supreme Court as Deputy Administrative Director from 1967-71. In 1971, he and his young family moved to Michigan so he could assume the position of Oakland County Circuit Court Administrator. He then moved on to be the Associate State Court Administrator at the Michigan Supreme Court from 1973-79. Finally, he served as Clerk of Court/Court Executive for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit from 1979-99. He served in many professional associations, including as Executive Director of the Federal Bar Association (Eastern District of Michigan Chapter). He also helped edit many journals including that of The Historical Society for the Federal District of Eastern Michigan and the Michigan Bar Journal. After retiring in 1999, he continued to work with lawyers and courts as a consultant.

Post retirement, John moved to the Downriver area of metropolitan Detroit where, with Ford Yacht Club on Grosse Ile as his homebase, he pursued his life-long passion of sailing. He was active in the churches he attended and always sang in the choir. He also enjoyed reading, writing, and Michigan State basketball. It was at this time that he married and later divorced Karen L. Sell.

John leaves behind two daughters, Julia Mayer and Carla Jean Mayer; three grandchildren, Lucas Willie Mayer Binion, Stella Rae Davis Binion, and Micah Harrison Mayer Benn; one brother, Paul, and sister-in-law, Sharon (Malloy) Mayer; and a son-in-law, Daniel J. Moore.

A graveside memorial service will be held later this fall at Evergreen Cemetery in Painesville, Ohio. Memorial contributions in John's name can be made to Great Lakes Historical Society and the Brennan Center for Justice.