DANVERS — Former longtime Selectman Baron Mayer, the man once known as "Mr. Danvers," died Sunday at his home in Washington, N.C., Town Manager Wayne Marquis said. He was 87.
"I believe he was the longest-serving selectman in the history of the town," Marquis said. Mayer served eight consecutive terms from 1959 to 1983, six of those as chairman.
His name graces the annual champagne reception and volunteer community service award given out at the start of the two-week Danvers Family Festival. The award dates back to 1983.
"He was a wonderful man, a wonderful guy," said Marquis, who was appointed assistant town manager and then town manager in 1979, toward the end of Mayer's 24 years in office. Mayer's daughter, Nancy, called and broke the news, Marquis said.
"I'm saddened by the loss, and the selectmen extend their condolences to the family," Selectman Gardner Trask said. "I was actually a roommate of his son's while in college, so I knew him briefly.
"When they say we stand on the shoulders of giants, selectmen today stand on the shoulders of a giant like Baron Mayer. ... He's one of the iconic names of Danvers, not unlike John George (former selectman) and Cornelius Dunn (former Danvers High principal)."
After retiring as a senior executive with General Electric, Mayer moved to North Carolina in 1987 with his wife, Kay, to be closer to their children, Marquis said in an e-mail announcing Mayer's death.
Kathy Ciman, who helped organize this year's champagne reception, said some old friends of Mayer's had come to the reception at Glen Magna Farms hoping he might be there. However, he had not attended in many years. Selectman Mike Powers won the award this year and Ciman introduced him.
"When I gave the speech about Mike Powers the other day, I said he best reflected the tenor of Baron Mayer's experience, because his breadth of volunteerism was widespread."
Powers said his start in public service was similar to Mayer's, who served on the Recreation Committee for many years and as an official with the Danvers Little League.
"Since his passing, I learned ... he started on the Recreation Committee with his public involvement, and that's where I got my start as well," Powers said, noting his father was a Town Meeting member years ago and remembered Mayer well.
"He was very quiet, very controlled, always very well-dressed, very professional, even when he was around town," Powers said.
Staff Writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673, or by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com.
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