It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Board Member ~ Max. Kaiser Jr. ~ may he Rest In Peace ~
MAX KAISER, JR. was a longtime Catholic activist, Max is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and was named a Pontifical Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 for his numerous long-term historical preservation, artistic, cultural, philanthropic and religious efforts. He was a professional historian, urban preservationist, feature/news writer, and previous radio reporter/writer (KMOX-CBS Radio) and host, advertising, marketing and media communications executive, and architecture, liturgical metalsmith, craftsman, and design expert. He also served as a USAF officer, veteran, and advocate.
Active on the Knights of Columbus History and Heritage Committee, and the KofC Veterans Affairs Committee, Max also served as a Vice-President of the Old Cathedral St. Vincent DePaul Society in St. Louis, MO (founded in 1845). He was a founding member of the Young Adult St. Vincent DePaul Society of Greater St. Louis. He was a life-member of the Latin Liturgy Association, the Society for the Preservation of the Catholic Artistic Heritage (SPORCH), a founding member of the National Museum of Catholic Art & History (New York City), and other liturgical arts and ecclesiastical organizations.
Max was a member of the White House Jesuit Retreat League in metro St. Louis, and served as a joint chair of the Father William B. Faherty History Fellowship Committee at his college alma mater, honoring his longtime history professor, friend and mentor. He was an active member of the St. Louis University Alumni Association. Max was also a student under Cardinal Dolan in Church History, and Cardinal Dolan invited Max to his installation as Archbishop of Milwaukee and later, his installation as Cardinal for the Archdiocese of New York. He was also very familiar with St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and other landmarks and historical places in NYC. Max was a board member of the Central Verein in of North America and the Jaycees Foundation, trained professional judge for oratorical and scholarship contests sponsored by Toastmasters International, Jaycees Foundation, Optimists International and Junior Achievement, among others in relation to public interest among young Americans. He lended his accomplished public speaking, civic leadership and charitable abilities generously to the community, serving as an active member and volunteer, professional contest judge, the Public Relations Society of America, and other national media and communications industry groups.
He served as an Officer and Instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Luke AFB, McConnell AFB, and other military installations around the country. A U.S. Air Force officer and veteran, He held a Bachelors degree in History and English from St. Louis University, and has participated in graduate studies in history, media, crisis management, audio/visuals and marketing communications. He was active in a wide array of civic and community groups, veterans organizations, arts, marketing communications and religious groups in the Midwest and elsewhere. He was a widely published editor, reporter and feature writer for print and broadcast in local, regional and trade publications, as well as a religious, cultural, American and military historian. He served in professional public relations, advertising and marketing management and executive capacities for major civic, community, historical and sporting events and projects. He was also the first college student in the history of St. Louis County to be appointed to a municipal board of a Fire Department (at age 18), serving as Secretary and Fire Department Commissioner for eight years in the St. Louis County suburb of Crestwood, MO.
Max was an advisory board member to the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, and a board member of the St. Louis County (MO) Historical Society. He was a member of the St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Association, which promotes cultural understanding and international trade between designated "sister cities" worldwide. He also served on the board of the Jaycees Foundation. Max served on the St. Louis 250th Anniversary Commemoration Committee of the Missouri Historical Society, and was an active member of the American Catholic Historical Society. He was a member of Phi Alpha Theta International History Honor Society, and was named to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities." He was also a member of Pi Kappa Delta Forensics Honor Society, an international university public speaking, debate and forensics organization promoting oral communications excellence and achievement among college and graduate students as well as the general public. He was an advisory board member for a number of historic preservation groups for churches and houses of worship, including Partners for Sacred Places, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that deals with the conservation, preservation and respectful re-use of historic churches, synagogues and houses of worship throughout the U.S.A. He also was a founding member of the Young Adult St Vincent DePaul Society, and a supporter of Runners for Life. . He also is an officer/veteran in the USAF, having served at the USAF Academy, and the Gateway Arch 50th Anniversary Committee. He is a member of the Catholic Historical Association, and is a published historian and Journalist.
Max was a member of the Ellis Island National Monument Preservation Committee, where his grandfather of the same name arrived in the U.S.A. from Stuttgart, Germany in October, 1896. (His grandfather MAX J. KAISER's name is now inscribed on the "Ellis Island Immigration Wall of Honor" at the museum). Max, Jr. is an active member of the American Legion. Max was with KMOX - CBS Radio as a news reporter/writer for 2 years with Kent Martin and the late John McCormick.
In addition, Max had extensive Family Business Experience as his Family Founded Mueller Kaiser Plating Co. (1911) and Speh Monument Co (1882) and had extensive experience in monumental design, fabrication, restoration, placement and memorialization. (He recently planned, supervised and completed the skilled restoration of Supreme Knight of Columbus (1918-65) LUKE E. HART's upright monument at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis). He worked extensively in the design, fabrication, restoration and sale of stained glass and devotional metalware for churches and other houses of worship, cemeteries and other institutions throughout the U.S.A. Max has also designed notable custom ornamental stone work as well as interior settings for churches and houses of worship around North America. He was involved for many years in the expert fabrication, restoration, refinishing and conservation of fine religious metalware, vessels and fixtures throughout the U.S. and overseas, serving on a number of international cultural, arts and craftsmanship panels. He was actively involved in Mueller Kaiser Plating Company where he acquired extensive metalsmithing and finishing skills. Max, Jr. is a life member of the Society of American Silversmiths (SAS). His scholarship of American, European and military history and his discerning appreciation for ecclesiastical, memorial, and historical architecture and its historical preservation is nationally acclaimed. Max also had an extensive working knowledge of famous North American cemeteries--denominational, public, private, commercial and military--from all historical periods. He was very active in the preservation of historic churches in the Archdiocese of St Louis and elsewhere, as well as their liturgical artworks and music. Max was an advisory board member for a number of historic preservation groups for churches and houses of worship of all denominations, including Partners for Sacred Places, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that deals with the conservation, preservation and respectful re-use of historic churches, synagogues and houses of worship throughout the U.S.A.
Over the last two years, Max Kaiser Jr not only supported us as a board member, but also in some of our consultation efforts with religious and world leaders. Max was always supportive our consultations. He always brought hope to our Founder in relation to the consultations she offers and the global issues and crises she has worked passionately to help overcome. For the last two years, Max has heroically battled prostate cancer, despite the pandemic, contracting COVID twice, being vaccinated and boosted, and going through surgery and treatment. Max was a severely immuno-compromised patient. This past week he was placed on hospice care, and he returned to the Lord this Monday. We are very grateful for all of his encouragement, spiritual and emotional support throughout this time, and to have journeyed with him, the ups and downs of his battle with cancer, through this chapter of his life, and to have given him hope through this time. Max Kaiser Jr. loved the Archdiocese of New York, was thankful for his friendship with Cardinal Dolan, and to be apart of our board, while we have been helping other to overcome the pandemic. He was thankful to support us in our mission of working beside the Archdiocese of New York, as well as other faith denominations and supporting religious and world leaders. Max also supported our mission to work with youth and young adults as Max loved helping youth to grow in their faith as well.... Max was excited to be a part of our mission in relation to World Youth Day and World Meeting of Families, and was excited about the fresh air Pope Francis' has been bringing to the Church and the world at this time in history. We are thankful and grateful not only for all that Max Kaiser Jr has done in relation to The Grenchus Foundation, but all he has done in relation to the Faith, living out his Catholic Faith everyday, as well as all he has done for others, through his service, public speaking, the arts, and all the other ways he has touched so many lives.
Although we are happy for Max and him returning to the Lord ~ Eternal Life, Max will be greatly missed. Max's funeral service will be on Saturday... we will have more announcements in honor of Max throughout this week.
Please keep Max and his family in your prayers ~
If you would like to Contribute to the Max Kaiser Jr. Memorial Fund, please go to the link below:
For OBITUARY AND LIVE STREAM LINK
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“One of the most wonderful things about Max Kaiser Jr was his encouragement, kindness, and emotional and spiritual support of my family, as well as of me, as a female founder. He was very supportive of my goals and dreams for my family, as well as for the Foundation. Max was a great friend. It was great to experience his enthusiasm and joy and positive outlook in different areas of life. As well as to experience his kindness towards others and welcoming and open spirit towards others. He will be greatly missed!”
“What an impressive list of accomplishments and activities. I knew Max through my association with Toastmasters these past 20 years. We knew him as a tremendous public speaker and an avid historian. But I will remember him most simply for his kindness and the interest he took in others. God bless him.”
