Michael A. Maus
1941 - 2021
Michael A. Maus, 79, of Arvada died February 23 at Collier Hospice in Wheat Ridge. Born August 3rd, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan he was the son of Art and Lucille Fink Maus. He was the older brother to Phil. He graduated from Alma College in Alma, Michigan where he met Jeri Lou Zettle, in the college choir. During college Mike worked as weekend disc jockey for the local radio station.
Mike and Jeri Lou were married in 1964 and had two sons, Andy and John. Mike worked at WXYZ in Detroit and then in 1968 for WNBC in New York. In 1971 NBC News promoted him to Senior Correspondent and he anchored radio network newscasts and covered national politics until 1987. Mike was their Chief Political Correspondent and covered Presidential campaigns and elections from 1972 to 1984, and he was also their Religion Correspondent. In 1982 Mike also did stories for NBC Nightly News. After nearly twenty years at NBC, Mike moved to CBS News in New York for four years, ending his broadcast career at Minnesota Public Radio as producer and host of 'Worldview', an international affairs program.
Following his broadcast career Mike was Director of Communications at the National Council of Churches, American Bible Society and Lutheran World Relief before retiring in 2002.
During Mike's career he also taught Journalism at the City College of New York, and Communications at Macalaster College in St. Paul, MN. He was granted a William Benton Fellowship in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Chicago, received the National Headliner Award for the best radio coverage of the 1984 campaign, and won two George Foster Peabody awards for excellence in broadcast news
He lived a life of service, as a trustee of Westminster College he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1988. Mike was chair of the Peacemaking group of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Mike loved music, especially live organ concerts. He enjoyed singing at First United Church in Arvada, and in the Golden Concert Choir. He served on the Board of Directors of Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden. He was an interim pastor and conducted services (in English) in Sibiu, Romania in 2010.
In 2014 Mike was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) an atypical form of Parkinson's. He participated in a 4 year clinical study of PSP at University of California, San Francisco. Wanting to help others, Mike donated his brain to the Mayo Brain Bank for PSP research.
Mike is survived by his wife Jeri Lou, his sons Andy (Ann) and John a/k/a Jack (Jeanette), brother Phil (Carol), 3 grandchildren (Jake, Matthew and Jessie) and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life is being planned over ZOOM on April 17. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First United Church of Arvada (https://www.arvadaucc.org/give/) or to support research through CURE PSP (https://www.psp.org/iwanttohelp/ways-to-give/).
CARINGBRIDGE Guestbook:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikemaus
Published in Colorado Community Media on Mar. 25, 2021.
Yvonne Gorak (Centala)
I knew Michael only slightly, as we crossed paths going to the Blazer and Outpost rooms at the same time, but that was enough to know he was thoughtful, good natured, kind and focused.
He built more than one strong career in the profession most necessary in a democracy (according to Thomas Jefferson) --journalism.
Kudos to Michael, and deep sympathy to his family.
Yvonne
S. James Islam
I was pretty shy at Redford, most of my friends were neighborhood kids. I do remember Michael, he was an old fashioned nice guy. Peace to you my friend.
Jim Islam