Sue Mauer: Champion of homeowners

_{Susanne “Sue” Mauer, 83, was remembered Oct. 27 with a funeral mass at All Saints Catholic Church and a tribute by Larry Silverstein. Mrs. Mauer, who passed away on Oct. 19, is survived by her husband, Ronald, two daughters and six grandchildren.}

_{Silverstein is expected to succeed Mrs. Mauer as chair of Community Forum, an association of neighborhood groups from across the city. In a letter to the membership, he said despite working closely with Sue for 12 years, he had no idea until he read her obituary how many community projects she had supported.}

_{Here are some of his remarks:}

_{“Sue had so many ties, close friendships and relationships. Sue was dedicated to making Knox County a better place to live. Sue loved her Crestwood Hills neighborhood and the Council of West Knox County Homeowners. …}

_{“Sue earned the respect and friendship of many public officials who could never turn down her polite, but often urgent requests to solve a problem.}

_{“Most of my many phone conversations with Sue ended with her telling me, ‘In the meantime, you take care.’ She knew we would be talking again very soon. I will always hear her voice, and I know everyone else will too.”}

_{Mrs. Mauer’s early career included jobs of personnel director, newspaper advertising director, marketing director, radio talk show host and reporter in Cuba during the 1959 revolution which brought Fidel Castro to power.}

_{After settling in Knoxville in the 1970s, she headed Welcome Wagon and newcomers’ groups, served on the board for Junior Achievement, and joined the Crestwood Hills Homeowners Association. She soon became president. In this role, she spearheaded efforts for the historical overlay of the Major Reynolds property in Bearden. She advocated for greenways and received the Knoxville Cornerstone award.}

_{“At the burial at Highland Memorial Cemetery, there was a bag pipes performance. By incredible coincidence, in this enormous cemetery, Sue’s grave is incredibly near where her dear friend, Jean Teague, is buried. I know I will be visiting there often,” Silverstein wrote.}

_{Learn more about Sue Mauer here.}