Richard Lawrence Maier, aka Rick or Poppy Rick, of Savannah, GA, was born September 18th, 1944, in Washington, DC, and passed away on October 24th, 2026, at 82 years old. The second oldest of four children, he was raised alongside his two brothers and one sister, as well as his uncle and cousin who stayed with his family at various times. An inclusive definition of family, and extending welcome and hospitality, would become important values and connectors throughout his life

Rick grew up as an “Army brat”, counting many places as home during his childhood, including Maryland, Hawaii, Virginia, Kansas, Ohio, and Taiwan. At the onset of the Korean War, Rick’s father–a Colonel-- was put in charge of reopening former Army posts across the southern United States. As his father transferred from base to base, the family moved along with him, sometimes as often as every few months. Defining his migratory upbringing, Rick began first grade at the same school where he ended second, after moving at least six times in between.

He spoke fondly of his time in Hawaii, noting he rarely wore more than a pair of shorts (which he later blamed for frequent dermatology visits), and achieved glory in Maryland, where he won the title of Prince George’s County Spelling Bee Champion in junior high school.

After graduating from Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, OH, Rick joined his parents in Taiwan where they thought it would be more beneficial and educational for him to live in a foreign country than to attend college stateside. Rick was a rebellious young man earning himself the credo of “do it until someone tells you not to.” This spirit may have served his adventurous side well, but it also landed him on some less expected, nor desired, life paths. Like many free spirits of his generation, after throwing a party without permission, Rick was pushed to enlist in the United States Army, sworn in by his father.

Rick would go on to serve eight years in the Army, moving yet again from Taiwan to California, then to Illinois, and finally back to his birthplace of Washington, DC. When he traveled from Taiwan to Fort Ord in Monterey, CA, he had only ten dollars to his name and recounted that his basic training was mostly uneventful other than his last day being November 22, 1963, the same day President Kennedy was assassinated.

While in the Army, Rick worked on early versions of data centers and computers while earning his education in business data processing (now an archaic term) from The University of Maryland. Rick completed his enlistment as an E-6 computer systems analyst at The Pentagon in April 1971, immediately shed his uniform and grew a notable beard, and returned to the same desk two weeks later as a GS-11. He continued to work in computer procurement for the Department of Army, Department of Commerce, and completed his government career with the Census Bureau in 1996.

Rick transitioned to the private sector in the second phase of his career. He took on a role with the marketing team at Digital Equipment Corporation, and stayed with them through two acquisitions, first by Compaq, then HP. Along the way Rick was transferred to a sales team that collaborated with the top computer science departments in the country developing early
supercomputers. He reminisced about selling a terabyte of storage for millions of dollars. But now it’s available for $80 on Amazon! In 2001, Rick proudly sold what was then the most powerful system in the world dedicated to unclassified research, instrumental in mapping the human genome, to the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. At the time the only larger systems were at the Department of Energy labs modeling nuclear explosions. He was quoted in the newspaper, “Now I have something to brag about to my children.”
After a youth punctuated by frequent moves, Rick put down roots in Chevy Chase, MD. He and his wife, Mary, purchased their neglected rental house from their landlord in 1977, then spent several years painstakingly rehabilitating it, by hand, into a home that would become the venue for innumerable family gatherings; Redskins Commanders games, birthdays, and holidays. It also served as a reliable crash pad (or affordable extended stay hotel) for exchange students and Rick’s children’s wayfaring friends. Their home hosted many beautiful memories over the 30+ years they lived there. Rick especially liked planting tulips in the garden beds they built out front and enjoyed pushing his children on a big swing he hung from the large maple tree in the backyard.

Rick’s dedication to family included timing at swim meets, driving early morning carpools, commissioning his daughter’s paintings, relentlessly editing homework essays, playing catch, teaching chess and golf, playing late night billiards, attending crew regattas, and musical performances. Rick also had a lifelong love for the furry members of his family, especially two orange cats named Cinnabar and Jagger. He was known amongst neighbors for his cat whispering and amateur veterinary skills.

A lifelong Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders fan, Rick owned season tickets for several years, and after the high points of the 1990s, suffered in person, alongside his family through what would be years of embarrassing performances by the team. His tailgate bloody marys will forever be legendary.

He loved to play chess, poker, bridge, tripoly, and many other card games. Every year he looked forward to his golf vacations and time with family in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Rick enjoyed any opportunity to eat seafood whenever possible and considered himself a connoisseur of Maryland crab cakes (a delivery from Faidley’s was a slam dunk). He loved reading, and exchanging books with his beloved sister, Barbara. He was loyal to classic rock, and appreciated live music, treating his kids to Rolling Stones’ shows, and blasting the Traveling Wilburys on road trips.

In 2005, Rick moved one last time. He and Mary settled in Savannah, GA at the Landings on Skidaway Island. In their retirement, he continued his lifelong quest of breaking 100 in golf, playing card games, enjoying many sunsets at the marina, and going on golf cart rides throughout the idyllic island. He enjoyed his time with the Hamiltons and the work they did. He filled his days, for several years, working pro bono as an advocate for the lone-survivor of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crash. His determination led to a measure of justice on this friend’s behalf.  is connection to the Coast Guard, through his son-in-law, granted him one of his favorite life moments: sailing the Atlantic Ocean during a “Tiger Cruise” from Wilmington, NC to Mayport, FL, and earning a designation as “Shipmate for Life” aboard USCGC DILIGENCE (WMEC 616).

Rick is predeceased by his parents, Colonel John E. and Dorothy Maier, his older brother, John, and his younger sister, Barbara.

Rick is survived by his wife Mary, his children, Jessica Maier (Justin Carter) and Jackson (Katie) Maier, Nicole Maier and David Maier, his younger brother Doug, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, whom after knowing Rick more than 50 years considered him to be one of their own, and his grandchildren Clair, Julianne, and Josephine Carter, and Katarina and Nolan Reitz. The delight he got from getting to know their developing personalities and stories was paramount and won’t be forgotten by those of us who knew him, love him, and miss him.

A private family service, as he wished, will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Resorce Center