John R. Mazer – 50th Reunion Essay

John R. Mazer

1020 Heather Glen

Watkinsville, GA 30677

jrmazer@att.net

Spouse(s): Debra S. Mazer

Child(ren): Samantha Mazer (1986); Jessica Mackenzie (1989)

Education: University of Michigan MA 1972

Career: Forestry Analyst, Procurement Forester, Harvesting Manager

Avocations: Volunteering at GA State Botanical Gardens; Walking the dog

College: Saybrook

After graduation from Yale I moved to Ann Arbor to pursue a degree in Chinese history. After several years and time in Taiwan I realized for better or worse academia was not my true calling.

I was fortunate to land a job as an analyst at a paper mill based in north Florida. I ended up working on the forestry side of the business for 39 years. The company was acquired by Georgia-Pacific and then by Koch Industries. In my position I did a 10-year stretch in Atlanta. I also lived in Palatka, Florida, Augusta, Georgia, Prosperity, South Carolina, and finally Athens, Georgia (where I am retired). I was able to travel throughout the southeast and occasionally to Maine. I worked with corporate executives, forest managers, foresters, landowners, and loggers. In other words it was a great job that gave me days outside in the woods. Moreover no two days were alike. What more could one ask for?

Having grown up in New England I only knew what the news said about the South. Well, I came to know the people and I found that they were like people anywhere else but with an accent. Although it turned out I was the one with the accent. An additional benefit from living in the South is that I learned to like turnip greens and cornbread meals. I don’t remember those being served in the Saybrook dining hall.

I have been married twice, but my second marriage has lasted 36 years, yielding two children. In searching for new experiences, my daughter and I traveled to Europe, Canada, and Costa Rica. I hope we still have a few more trips left.

Now I spend my days working as a volunteer at the Georgia State Botanical Gardens, taking courses at OLLI through University of Georgia here at Athens, and walking my redbone coonhound, Bosie.