MISSION

His death was abrupt, painful, and unsurprising. It was the culmination of 15 years of suffering, of fighting, and of growing older. The tipping point? Hurricane Katrina, August 29, 2005. Where once stood a young family in the heart of Lakeview, a web of loss, pain, and mental illness spun out of control, coming to a catastrophic end over a decade later.

Out of this tragedy, there is hope. There are things to be gained and things to look forward to. It is important to me that you know that.

THE BEGINNING

My father was a champion of education—an eager student and a passionate professor. Even in his lowest moments, he pursued knowledge every day through reading. He took great joy in sharing his books and making recommendations to students, friends, and strangers. If David was a part of your life, there was a good chance his books were on your shelf.  When he died, he left behind a collection of 1000 books. 1000 books that he would have been eager to share. 

The Library

The mission of the David E. Maurer Library is exactly that—to share. We will be placing books from David’s collection in Free Little Libraries across the Greater New Orleans Area. It is my hope that through this initiative, his story will spark meaningful conversations about trauma, substance abuse, and loss. 

The Scholarship

If you’ve found one of my father’s books, please consider donating to the David E. Maurer memorial scholarship at the University of New Orleans. Once we reach our fundraising goal, a yearly scholarship will be awarded to a student who has been affected by substance abuse. Nothing would give my family greater relief than to know that David’s life had a positive impact.

Thank you,

Dani