Robert Mayer, Jr.

MAYER, JR., ROBERT, passed away very peacefully at Clements University Hospital in Dallas, on March 30, 2018. Business owner, petroleum engineer, physicist (geo-, hydro- & nuclear-), inventor, protégé of Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Sam Rayburn, lifelong grassroots political activist and beloved family member, Mr. Mayer was born June 17, 1922, to Dora Frank Mayer & Robert Mayer, in Dallas, TX. He graduated early from Harvard University in 1942 (Harvard Class of 1943). In 1941, he taught radar to Army & Naval personnel. In 1944, he enlisted in the military and was commissioned as Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving in the Army of Corps of Engineers. In 1952, he founded Well Reconnaissance, Inc., acquired in 1979 by Gearhart Owen Industries. He continued his life of service, regularly working from his Addison office, until 2 days before his passing. Mr. Mayer was a member of the Addison Business Association since 1974, on the WaterTower Theatre Board since 1999 and a member of the Executive Board of Dedman College (Southern Methodist University). Other memberships included the Dallas Council of World Affairs and numerous geophysical & scientific organizations, including the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Exploration Physicists. Mr. Mayer married Elli Mayer in 1951. She preceded him in death in 1998, his sister, Miriam (Mrs. Harold S. Sternberg), in 2015 and his nephew, Robert Sternberg, in 1986. He is survived by his only child, Mary Anne Mayer Redmond of Addison, TX; his nephew, Bruce Sternberg of Austin; his great-niece, great-nephew, numerous other family members, James Redmond of Rogers, AR, and special friend Zelda Siegel of Dallas. The family is grateful to Lovie Browder, housekeeper for over 40 years, Barbara Goff of Senior Rides and amazing caregivers Rachel Muturi, Nancy Muthiaru, Margaret Githire. The family requests that memorials be made to the Robert Mayer Undergraduate Research Fellows program at SMU (Dedman College of Humanities & Sciences, Development & External Affairs, P.O. Box 750235, Dallas, TX 75275-0235), WaterTower Theatre (15650 Addison Rd., Addison, TX 75001), or a charity of choice. Public memorial service 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 4, Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Road. Private committal - Hillcrest Memorial Park.