BEVERLY: Rodney A. Maxner, 73, of 3A Clifford Avenue died Sunday afternoon, October 7, 2007 in the Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers following an extended illness. He was the husband of Brenda J. (Chafe) Maxner.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 2, 1934, he was the son of the late James A. and Elsie E. (Tucker) Maxner. Rod was a lifelong Beverly resident who proudly and selflessly devoted his entire life to helping make Beverly a wonderful, caring, and thriving community.
His employment service to Beverly started out in 1976 as the supervisor of the CETA Program under the then mayor, James Vitale. The CETA Program was a federally funded program during the recession of 1970. This was a very productive program for the city of Beverly.
Rod retired after 20 years as the Director of Building and Grounds, Beverly Public School Department. Rod started out as a night custodian and worked his way up the ladder to Sr. Custodian at Beverly High School before being appointed to the Directorship. He was known for being firm, but fair; he cared for and appreciated his co-workers. Rod wanted all the kids to have a clean, safe, and warm school environment. Even in his retirement years, he served as a crossing guard. “Mr. Maxner” always offered his warm smile and jovial spirit to all who passed by.
Rod was also very active in city affairs. He was a member of the Planning and Construction Committee, in which he was a very dedicated member. He was also a member of the new Beverly High School Building Committee. In the private sector, Rod was on the Board of Directors for the Beverly Municipal Credit Union.
Rod’s real passion was seeing kids and coaches (young and older) develop and grow through Little League. He got involved in Beverly Little League back in 1969 and was a coach, Manager (the Braves), and Treasurer of the league right up until the time of his death. Rod was appointed to the district by Assistant Manager, Mr. Stan Brown, as an Assistant District Administrator. In 1994, Rod was key and instrumental in the development of Harry Ball Baseball Park, which is probably one of the best little league facilities in the state of Massachusetts. Needless to say, Rod enjoyed little league at all levels.
In addition to his wife of 46 years, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Robin L. and Bailey Bishop of Beverly, four sons and a daughter-in-law, Scott J. Maxner of Holderness, NH, Rodney A. Maxner, Wayne S. and Amy (Ellert) Maxner all of Beverly and Craig Maxner of FL, nine grandchildren, his sister and brother-in-law, Jacqueline and Jack Frost of Beverly, a cousin, Ray Curtis and his wife, Lydia of GA and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held privately in the North Beverly Cemetery. A memorial service celebrating Rod’s life will be held at the Harry Ball Baseball Park at a later date. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Beverly Little League, P. O. Box 222, Beverly, MA 01915 or the Hospice of the North Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923.