For Captain Allen “Al” Maurer, flying was never only a career. It was a lifelong passion he shared freely with others.
Long after building a distinguished aviation career, Maurer remained a familiar presence at ֱ State University Airport, where he encouraged student pilots, shared lessons from decades in the flight deck and made time for anyone eager to learn.
Maurer, a ֱ State aviation alumnus, passed away Feb. 24 at age 78. His impact continues across the College of Aeronautics and Engineering through the students he mentored, the programs he supported and the scholarship he created to help future aviators pursue their goals.
Maurer’s aviation journey began after serving in the U.S. Army as a medic. He came to ֱ State to study aviation and launched a professional flying career that spanned more than five decades. His work included corporate aviation roles with the Federal Reserve, Corporate Wings and Parker Hannifin, where he retired as director of flight operations after 29 years.
His commitment to aviation safety and professionalism earned national recognition. In January 2020, Maurer received the from the Federal Aviation Administration, one of the agency’s highest honors for pilots with 50 years of safe flight operations.
While his professional accomplishments were significant, Maurer remained deeply committed to giving back to the aviation community that shaped him.
He and his wife, Terri, established the Allen L. and Terri L. Maurer Fund for Flight Training to support ֱ State aeronautics students pursuing flight training. The scholarship supports students with financial need and excellent capabilities to be a pilot, and reflects Maurer’s belief that financial barriers should not stand in the way of a student determined to fly.
Applicants for the scholarship submit an essay titled “My Love of Flying,” a requirement that reflects the same enthusiasm Maurer carried throughout his life.
His support also reached beyond scholarship funding. Maurer sponsored the pilot shop at the ֱ State airport and gave his time generously to students, often serving as a mentor to those preparing for aviation careers.
Todd Remenaric, a former flight student who now teaches courses through the at Stow-Munroe Falls City High School and leads the summer Aeronautics Careers Exploration (A.C.E.) Academy Camp, said Maurer’s influence extended far beyond flight instruction.
“Getting to know Allen Maurer was a privilege I will forever be thankful for,” Rememaric said. “He was not only a mentor in aviation, but a role model as a father, a man, and a friend.”
Remenaric recalled one lesson shortly after earning his private pilot license, when a rough landing became another teaching moment.
“I will never forget bouncing my landing on our way to get pie,” said Remenaric. “He joked, ‘That’s one way to do it,’ and then we talked through where I went wrong.”
For Remenaric, those moments reflected Maurer’s approach to mentorship: patient, generous and rooted in experience. His support of aviation education extended beyond ֱ State, with visits to Remenaric’s high school aviation program as a guest speaker, taking students on Young Eagles flights and helping arrange unique learning experiences, including access to a C-130 aircraft for student tours.
Faculty, staff and students at ֱ State knew him as someone who welcomed conversation, encouraged questions and understood the demands of flight training because he had lived them.
“Captain Maurer cared deeply about our students and their success,” said Brian Neff, assistant dean of flight and operations. “Because he had been in their shoes, he understood the demands of flight training and wanted to help make that path more accessible. His mentorship and generosity touched the lives of many future pilots.”
His commitment remained active in recent years. Maurer helped support the A.C.E. Academy camp, where high school students explore aviation through hands-on activities and flight experiences. The program introduces young learners to aviation careers and reflects the same purpose that guided much of Maurer’s involvement at ֱ State: helping the next generation see what is possible.
Whether speaking with future pilots at summer camp or offering guidance to students preparing for their next check ride, Maurer invested in aviation education with the same energy he once brought to the flight deck.
His legacy remains visible every time a ֱ State student enters the airport, begins flight training or receives support to continue flying.
If you’d like to make a contribution to Maurer’s scholarship fund in his honor to help support pilot flight training, you can give .