Avery (Poor) Maher of Wellesley, died on May 1, 2018 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Lee (Avery) Poor and John Sheppard “Shep” Poor, Avery is survived by her three children, Kathleen Easton Maher-Szuma, Richard Joseph Maher Jr., and John Sheppard “Shep” Maher. Avery was pre-deceased by her husband, Richard Joseph Maher. Avery is also survived by five loving grandchildren, Veronica and Jack Szuma, as well as Rowan, Lucca, and Savannah Maher. Avery is survived by her two loving sisters, Penelope Poor and Deborah Poor. Avery also leaves behind countless friends and extended family.
Avery was a beacon of courage and integrity, and a stalwart supporter of her community. Even as Parkinson’s took away her physical strength, Avery remained mentally, emotionally, and spiritually vibrant. Her friends will remember her singing with St. Paul’s Choir until the very end, sitting and singing when she could no longer stand, her voice still clear and strong. While we will all miss Avery terribly, the angels have added a new soprano to their eternal choir.
Avery attended Rumson Country Day School in New Jersey, and St. Timothy’s School in Maryland. Avery graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1986, and received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989. While at Harvard Law School, Avery served as President of the Roscoe Pound Society, and as Executive Editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review. Avery’s courage in graduating from college and law school while supporting three young children and a husband who was dying of mesothelioma served as an example and inspiration for so many who witnessed her resilience and power of both spirit and will. Following law school, Avery worked for Gaston & Snow, and Bingham, Dana & Gould. She then spent twelve years working for John Hancock Advisers, followed by JP Morgan Asset Management, PNC Global Investment Services, and BNY Mellon. Avery’s specialty was the 1940 Act, and she earned a reputation as both a fierce negotiator, and a repeat champion in Boardroom Basketball. While serving as a high-powered attorney, Avery was somehow able to make time to attend countless crew races, lacrosse matches, and football games.
Avery’s sense of adventure and courage led her to take up SCUBA diving in her fifties, and to resume sailboat racing. Avery was a member of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead for many years, serving on their Race Committee, and racing in the International One Design fleet. Avery’s sense of service to her community compelled her to serve on the Town of Wellesley Advisory Committee, as a Director for the Wellesley Scholarship Foundation, and as a proud member of the Wellesley High School Gridiron Club.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) Wellesley, MA, Saturday, May 5 at 10am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Paul Church, Wellesley at 11am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours at the funeral home Friday, May 4 from 4-8pm. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following: National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) https://act.nrdc.org/donate/force-for-nature/ NRDC, 40 W. 20th St., NY, NY 10011 or The Southern Poverty Law Center https://donate.splcenter.org/ Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104 or the Wellesley Scholarship Foundation http://www.wellesleyscholarshipfoundation.org/make-a-donation.html Wellesley Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 81207, Wellesley, MA 02481.