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I can't believe I did not hear of this sooner. My heart is broken, George was a true friend and so willing to share. I am so glad to have been a student of his and to have had him as a friend. Just today, I was talking to a gentleman about my work and when he asked about my learning and inquired as to who taught me; I replied George Maurer, and the man told me that George passed away. I could not believe what I was hearing. I had been sending George some e-mails over the past month but no responses....I thought that it was weird...he'd always drop a line back. I was telling him I was looking forward to seeing him in April and showing him some recent work including some 3/2's I'd made....I wanted to know if he had the will power to not eat the Venison Jerkey I sent him for Christmas which he said he was saving for fishing season. ( He said this Jerkey was the best he'd ever eaten.....oh how I hope he did eat and enjoy it)

This man changed my life forever, and I'll never forget the man. Last year, I went to see him in April and I took the 5 rods which I made over the winter of 2007. In making the arrangments to meet, I had told him how much I wanted to be able to tell people that I learned from him, which he too wanted; but, I explained, I needed his blessings before I would go to sell my rods and boast of my being taught by him.. I needed to know that I had made something that my teacher would be proud of and approve of.

That morning he sat there in the front room, he pushed his rod wrapper aside and examined my rods very close. One by one, he examined the Butt section, then the each tip, then he lay the tips side by side to see how well I matched the wraps on each. He assembled them, he checked the Ferrule fit, he sighted them for straightness....... he looked at the 5 rods in this fashion without saying a word and for what seemed to be an hour in time for me. He turned to me and smiled; he stood up and reached his hand out to me, shook my hand and he told me I made it. The work was accepted by the man. I had the blessings of my teacher and his approval to say that I learned from him.

George Maurer was truly a terrific man; so talented and so willing to share. I will miss him dearly. Rest in Peace my friend. Thank you for enriching my life.

I told George something which he thought was really cool......prior to scheduling my work shop, I went to see him, and he turned me on to some of his work. He let me lawn cast several rods. He asked me why I wanted to make cane rods...? I told him that mainly I wanted to produce something that was a part of me, and, something that would be here long after I left this world. I noted it as being an extension of my life.....he told me that was "really cool".

George hugged me the day I left his home after I made that first rod; he called me friend and asked me to stay in touch.

God Bless you George !

Something that will stay with me forever........George got to know me a little bit before my workshop through phone and e-mail.......anyway day 1.... I had arrived about 7 am and I asked him where I could go to pitch a tent...he pushed my car door shut and said you'll stay with me...he told me to take my sleeping bag and bunk in the rear bed room, he got me set up.....We worked that day and ate well; I brought 2 Pin Wheels that I got from a friend in Brooklyn the weekend prior..I opened the package as we prepped for dinner and he looked at me and said" Pin Wheels" I haven't had these in years...they were a treat for both of us...Morning one...5:30 AM...HENDRIX - "The Star Spangled Banner": He had that Fender AMP cranked up and was blowing the roof off the place......it was the best wake up call I ever had......poor Cochise.....Thanks George for a most memorable experience.....for I have experienced.

My condolences to his family and to his daughter who wrote so carefully and thoughtfully of him. Do know that he loved you...he spoke of you...he told me this as we broke bread one night and he had cried as we spoke; we were talking family and personal experiences....but do know he was missing you very much and he loved you very much. This was in June 2005.

Timothy G. Mahovich
Pocono Mountain Rods