Joseph F. Maher

Joseph F. Maher 52, of Johnstown, NY, died Sunday morning in his home. Born March 18, 1961, he was the son of William and Kathleen Maher of Catskill, NY. He graduated from Coxsackie-Athens High School in 1979, and earned a Bachelor's degree in History from the State University of New York at Albany in 1983. Joe worked most of his life for a variety of newspapers in New York State, including the Albany Eagle, the Leader Herald, the Troy Record, and the Schenectady Gazette. He worked as both reporter and editor. He finished his professional life working for the Fulton County Department of Social Services. Joe married his wife, the former Layna Wohlgemuth on October 25th, 1986 at Saint Cecilia's Church in Fonda, NY. They moved to Fonda in 1988, and raised three sons. Joe volunteered as a youth soccer and little league baseball coach for many years. He was a president of the Fonda-Fultonville Youth Soccer league in the late 1990s and a member of the Fonda Volunteer Fire Department. Joe was an avid softball player, skier, and guitar player. He was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and the New England Patriots. He enjoyed reading newspapers and listening to music and loved spending time with family and friends. Joe moved to Johnstown, NY in 2002 and adopted his dog, also named Joe, from the Montgomery County S.P.C.A. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his three children, James Maher, of Fonda, John Maher, of Amsterdam, and Joseph Maher, of Fonda; his parents, William and Kathleen Maher of Catskill; two sisters, Anne Marie Glen Lubera, of Catskill, and Joanne Maher Trapeni, of York, PA; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews and many cherished friends. The family will receive relatives and friends from 11am to 12pm at St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church in Fonda, on Saturday, August 24th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12pm, and burial will follow at St. Cecilia's cemetery in Fonda. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Seraphic Mass Association, Papua New Guinea Mission, 3600 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Please visit the family's online guestbook at www.brbsfuneral.com.