John Anthony Maurer Jr.

Our beloved friend, John Maurer, passed away at Hospice House (IU Bloomington Hospital) after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. His death was a peaceful one, held in support by his community, listening to their words of love. John was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to John and Agnes (Valko) Maurer. He got his BA from the University of Delaware. But the education that would profoundly affect his life (and really so many of our lives) emerged from his work with great figures of the 1970s and 1980s: Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Sam Keen. John became a Rolfer and a Feldenkrais practitioner. His intellectual curiosity and his dedication to exploring human potential allowed him to put his own stamp on the work he drew from his own teachers and to generously mentor other practitioners. John was intuitive, gifted, and a natural leader. His thriving practice fundamentally changed the lives of hundreds, allowing, for example, musicians and athletes to overcome physical challenges that threatened their hopes for the future. He developed a series of workshops inviting people to do their own explorations with his guidance. Together, those of us who attended these dynamic sessions walked along edges of consciousness and discovered the impact of our families hidden in our bodies. Participants often found these workshops life-changing experiences. John also mentored other practitioners, always willing to share what he knew. John loved sports, golfing with much enthusiasm and quite a bit of skill. John had a golf scholarship to college and played on the team for a short time until he became aware of leadership and politics, running and winning several campus offices. He played in many local golf tournaments and traveled to beautiful golf courses around the country. He was even very good at persuading friends to occasionally caddy for him. He really enjoyed watching all sports but life was good when the Master’s or other golf majors were on TV, or when his golf hero Tiger Woods was playing anywhere. He loved IU Basketball and rarely missed a Sunday Colts game, even getting to attend several Super Bowls. Like most of us, John craved community and connection. What made him unique was his willingness to be intentional in creating community, gathering people together to talk, move, and go on shared journeys of self-exploration. Together, these groups were launching pads for growth and healing. But his dedication to community was more powerful than that - his own journey with Parkinson’s has been a gift to many others. He was tireless in his efforts to find ways to live with a devastating disease, searching out any way to slow its progression and improve the quality of his life. He formed a support group (that was so much more than that). And having enjoyed the mentorship of some of the greats, he gave back, willingly mentoring others and sharing his knowledge. John is survived by a vibrant and wide-spread community whose lives were shaped by his dedication to helping others. Jessica Mott truly speaks for so many of us when she says, “He was a true trailblazer and such a unique soul. His love was a game changer.” We are glad you are at peace, John, and we will miss you everyday.

Tributes

John Anthony Maurer Jr.

March 15, 1951 - December 2, 2022