Lasting Memories
Morton Richard "Dick" Maser
March 3, 1931-July 6, 2017
Palo Alto, California
Morton “Dick” Richard Maser died peacefully on July 7, 2017, after a hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Dick was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, to Jack and Fan Maser.
He is survived by his sons Scott, Ben and Mike, and his brother Barry.
He graduated from Central High School (1951) and then attended the University of Pennsylvania (1953), where he received both his undergraduate and doctoral degrees. While at Penn, he rowed lightweight men’s varsity crew, and was a member of the Friars Senior Society, the Kite & Key Society, the Nu Sigma Nu (William Pepper Medical) Society, and the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.
Between 1957 and 1965, he did his residencies in general and plastic surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Two years into his training, he met the love of his life, Julia Chandler Scott, and after a six week courtship, they married. Shortly thereafter, and between his general and plastic surgery residencies, the newlyweds left for Europe where Dick served in Wiesbaden, Germany, as a United States Air Force Captain. They returned to New York City in 1961, where they gave birth to their first son Scott while Dick completed his residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
In 1965, they gave birth to their second son Ben, and in 1966 the family moved to Palo Alto, California, where Dick took his first and only job as a Plastic Surgeon at the Palo Alto Clinic. In 1970, they gave birth to their third son, Mike.
Dick was a beloved member of the Palo Alto Clinic, cared for countless grateful patients and served on the clinical faculty at Stanford University Hospital over his 49-year career.
In 2012, he lost Julie to lung cancer. Though devastated and heartbroken, he forged ahead, practicing another 3 years and spending quality time with family and friends.
In 2015, he retired from his surgical practice, but continued to serve the patients of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation as a volunteer at the Palo Alto Main Campus.
Until just 2 months ago, he could be seen going out to dinner with family and friends, attending various social events, or on his almost daily bike ride through the Palo Alto foothills and the Stanford Campus in his signature neon yellow windbreaker.
Dick was a truly revered member of the community, respected and loved by all whose lives he touched. He will be greatly missed.
Dick’s family will be holding a private service for him in the upcoming weeks.
July 27, 2017
I can't believe MRM is gone, I had the privilege of working with him as his nurse from 1983-1996 at the Palo Alto Clinic. He was such a skilled and caring Plastic Surgeon and it was a great pleasure to work along side of him for all those years and observe first hand his ability to heal and make whole so many patients. These patients loved, adored and respected him so much, as did his peers, co- workers and nurses. I recall my Nursing Supervisor saying to me when I considered taking the job as his nurse, that it was the "plum job in the whole Clinic and I would not regret saying yes". I never did regret taking the position and enjoyed all the years of our association. But above all, he was an unassuming, down to earth guy who appreciated even the smallest favor you would do for him, so considerate and kind. What can I say except, I hope he didn't suffer and a heartfelt RIP MRM. Hugs, Bonnie