Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Quiet Passing of Eric Aryeh Mahr (1955-2010)

I was broken hearted to learn of the loss of my friend and colleague Eric Mahr. This was as fine a man as I have known--unassuming, straight, simple and kind; an ehrliche Yid whose passing has effected me more than I would have guessed.

I learned that Eric had left us from our mutual friend Michael Netzer, whose telling of the story makes it difficult to breath.

Eric and [his wife] Jody flew to Buffalo, NY, last week to attend the funeral of Jody’s father… and another one of Eric’s uncle. Eric was very close to both. Way too much sorrow and grief for one family, one man, to suffer at once. One funeral after the other. But Eric was almost done. Only one more eulogy for his uncle left to give. His heart, ripped into shreds, pressed on with love, grief, memories and praise. At the grave. Pressed on so hard that it couldn’t press on anymore. That’s when Eric collapsed. Giving the eulogy at his uncle’s grave. His heart. His soul. Collapsed at the grave...Way too much sorrow. (read more here)
Eric bridged many worlds--comics, Torah, publishing...many more. After moving to Israel from Buffalo, NY, he single-handedly established and maintained a comics-publishing niche for observant Jews. We spent time together at San Diego ComicCon and I later had the great merit to edit Balm in Gilead for his MW Publications. I recall Eric phoning from Israel in 2006 while small Israeli communities were under constant attack during the Second Lebanon War; he was deeply concerned and humbly asked if I'd contribute to a publishing project to help children who were living in shelters, having been made homeless by the bombs. This project meant so much to him. Everything he did meant so much to him.

Forgive me, my dear friend Eric, for not showing you the tremendous respect in this world that I'm sure you'll find in the next.

5 comments:

Michael Netzer said...

We both share this regret of not having been more appreciative of Eric. May his memory be a light to everyone.

Sanford Mahr said...

Clifford.. I am Eric's brother...

What you say about him starts to paint the picture of the man he was....

I thank you for your words and your recognition...

In my eulogy at memorial services and when people as what they can do I respond by saying to do what Eric would do and that would be acts of kindness and giving of himself to others....

I literally not figuratively shared my brother's last braeth, and had the high honor and privilege of being with him for all of his years.....

Anonymous said...

I am so very sorry for your loss, Mr. Meth. May Mr. Mahr find peace and an easing of his grief, and may his memory continue to fill the hearts of those he loved.


Sandra Odell
Bremerton, Washington

Anonymous said...

Eric was a beautiful soul and spirit. I truly wish I could have spent more time with him. I will keep his memory alive in my heart.

Lewis M. Fineberg

Sanford Mahr said...

I apologive however in my grief and hast I was quick to respond and did so without spellcheck and as a result my comments contained errors. Please forgive my haste. Especiallyas this post is being placed in honor of someone who did not compromise and tried to do things the right way, I am reposting them with typos corrected. PLEASE FORGIVE MY MISTAKE PREVIOUSLY
Clifford.. I am Eric's brother...

What you say about him starts to paint the picture of the man he was....

I thank you for your words and your recognition of him...

In my eulogy at the funeral, at memorial services in the United States and when people ask what they can do to help, I respond by saying to please do what Eric would do and that would be to perform acts of kindness and giving of himself to others....

I literally NOT figuratively shared my brother's last breath in his final moment, and had the high honor and privilege of being with him for all of his years in this life.....
Eric from boyhood demonstrated the characteristics of being one of those special people we are blessed to be with on this earth....
Thank You..
Sanford Mahr brother of Eric Aryeh Mahr