Reinhard Albert Mayer

Mayer, Reinhard Albert SARATOGA SPRINGS Reinhard Albert Mayer, 71, died on Christmas Eve, 2013 at home in Saratoga Springs. He was a professor of German, Translation and Holocaust Studies. Born in Pforzheim, Germany to Roman and Wally Mayer, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1949, settling in Rhode Island. He completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University in 1978. His scholarship on Thomas Mann and Clemens Brentano broadened to include numerous translations of literary texts, essays and poetry. Friends and colleagues describe him as a gentle man who gave without concern for reciprocity. He was especially admired by his students. As an active member of numerous professional organizations, he argued against the current drift toward corporate expediency in American education. He was helped in his long struggle with cancer by his daughter Shantia Mayer and most especially in his final months by his friend Sharon Nolan. In addition, he is survived by his brother Roger Mayer and family; cousins, Sanni Zogorski, Roman Mayer, Edward Mayer, Brenton Morgenstern, Steven Morgenstern and families; nephew Nickolas Mayer and family; and niece Anneliese Mayer. For more information, visit compassionatefuneral care.blogspot.com. A memorial gathering will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be sent to Doctors Without Borders.