Obituary of Marie Maier

Marie Ann Maier, 101, died peacefully on Thursday Nov. 4, at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held on Saturday Dec. 11, 1 p.m., at St. John’s Methodist Church, 354 High Street, Hope. Marie made an impact on her community with vision, perseverance and caring. Born in Manhattan in 1909 to immigrants from Germany, Marie worked for the Texas Company (now Texaco) in the Patent Dept. in the Chrysler building as a legal assistant from 1930 to 1940. In 1933 she married her husband Hermann (predeceased), whose business was Educational Placements (teacher placement service). While living in Brooklyn, in 1946-7 she and her husband started Educational Products Company, manufacturing the first 3 dimensional plastic cookie cutters in the United States. From 1948 to 1950 the Maier family vacationed in a log cabin at Lake Mohawk with their three children. In 1950 they moved to Sparta where Marie became involved in Girl Scouting, PTA, the Women’s Club and Sunday school teaching. Marie was one of the founding members of the Sussex and North Warren Girl Scout Council. She served as Fund Raising Chairman, Treasurer and finally President. During her tenure land was purchased and Girl Scout Camp Sunowa was built. With the formation of the Sussex and North Warren Girl Scout Council, leadership training was provided and soon there were Brownie, Junior and Senior Troops throughout Sussex and Warren counties. In June of 1953 the Maier family moved from Sparta to a dairy Farm in Hope, where Marie and her husband created their dream; the first Children’s Amusement Park in the United States where parents could participate with their children and not be passive spectators. The Land of Make Believe opened August 7th, 1954 and is now the oldest and largest operating family water and amusement park in New Jersey. From then on Marie and Hermann worked actively running the Land of Make Believe and Educational Products. Marie was active in many other pursuits as well. At the request of the Hope School Principal, Helen Banks, and with the help of Amanda Bowers, Marie organized a Mother’s Club in Hope School. This was an immediate success and involved parents in many school activities and holiday parties. Marie was soon appointed by the Township Committee as an original member of the Hope Historical Commission. She was a past president of the Hope Historical Society and was very active in its annual antique show. As a Red Cross volunteer Marie was actively involved in the 1955 flood caused by Hurricane Diane. Since 1953 she had been a member of the Blair Woman’s Club. She was involved in fund raising efforts for the Catherine Dickinson Library. Waiting on tables at the Methodist Church’s Chicken and Waffle suppers was always enjoyable for Marie. In 2003, she was recognized by the Hope Township Committee as its Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year. When she turned 100 on March 26, 2009, the letters of birthday greetings, the legislative proclamations, and the words of congratulations read like a Who’s Who of People Who Know. From New Jersey’s 23rd Senate and Assembly District Representatives and Warren County Freeholder Director Rick Gardner to Congressmen Leonard Lance and Scott Garrett to Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, NJ Governor Jon Corzine, and President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle, the accolades were aplenty. The president and his wife summed up the milestone simply and on point: “You have witnessed great milestones in American history throughout your century of life, and your personal story represents an important piece of the American narrative,” they wrote. “Your experiences and contributions will always be treasured.” Marie is survived by three children, Barbara Dugan, Susan Steben and Christopher Maier, two grandchildren, Geoffrey Dugan and Gwen Steward, and four great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the Maier family has requested that donations be sent in Marie Maier’s name to St. John’s Methodist Church, PO Box 291 Hope, NJ 07844. The DeVoe Funeral Service 136 West Washington Ave, Washington NJ 07882 has been entrusted with her arrangements