WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Maurice Filler, 94, of 1321 Green River Road died peacefully on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Born in Lowell, Mass., on July 27, 1921, the son of David Filler and Rebecca Stern Filler, both Russian Jewish immigrants, he was educated at Lowell High School, Class of 1938, and Northeastern University before volunteering to join the Army in 1942. He served with distinction in the Pacific Theatre in World War II with the Signal Corps in New Guinea, the Philippines and, following the end of the war, as part of the Occupation Forces in Japan, attaining the rank of corporal. 

Upon returning to the United States and receiving his honorable discharge, he continued his education at Boston University, obtaining both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education and History. During his post-war college days, he was active in social justice movements and led the Boston delegation of area college and university students to Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill. 

He married Myril Alpert of Revere, Mass., in New Hampshire on September 8, 1948 and shortly thereafter they relocated from Boston to Williamstown, where Maury accepted a position as a history teacher and guidance director/counselor at Williamstown High School, while Myril worked as a substitute teacher there as well.

Their intention was to remain in Williamstown for one or two years, while Maury pursued a Ph.D. in Anthropology and History from Columbia University during summer vacations. Instead, Myril and Maury remained residents of Williamstown for almost 67 years. Maury taught and served as a counselor first at the “old” Williamstown High School until 1961 and thereafter at the “new” Mt. Greylock Regional High School, retiring as Director of Guidance in 1984. He was the last of the “Old Guard” of WHS, attending until recently many reunions of the high school classes of the late ’40s and ’50s.

During these years in Williamstown, Maury taught Driver Education, chaired the History Department and was Curriculum Co-ordinator at the high school as well as Guidance Director, and served as the founding Board Member of the Williamstown Community Fund from its inception in 1953 until 2012. He also served for 47 years as a board member, president and emeritus board member of the Northern Berkshire Center for Mental Health and the Brien Center.

He was proud to have been recently named an honorary member of the Gale Hose Company, in recognition of his many years of service to the town and his donation to the Company of two antique pieces of 19th Century fire equipment.

Maury co-edited a popular two-volume set of readings in world history along with Williams professor Sidney Eisen ,which was published by Harcourt Brace and World and used extensively in thousands of high schools and colleges around the country in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

In 1954, Maury and Myril started Nicholas Books in a barn behind their Glen Street house. This mail-order educational book business sold publishers’ overstock to high school and college libraries books throughout the United States and Canada, and employed several long-time Williamstown residents, including Barbara Sylvester, Shirley Sylvester and Norma Noble. In the 1970’s Maury started Corner House Publishers, reprinting and distributing Americana books of historical significance. 

He is survived by his wife of almost 67 years, Myril A. Filler, 96; his son, Nick (and Colleen) Filler of Conway, Mass.; his daughter Joan (and Matt) Evangelista Filler of Ithaca, N.Y.; grandchildren Marielle Evangelista Filler of Portland, Ore., Clara Evangelista Filler of Lima, Peru, Caroline Kelly Filler of Conway, Mass., Katherine Rose Filler of New York City and Alexander Teasdale Filler of Vancouver, B.C., Canada; his cousin Zelda Stern and her husband Ralph Bradburd, who arrived in Williamstown and at Williams College much to Maury’s delight about 40 years ago and remain there still, and their children B. and Gideon Bradburd; as well as several nieces and nephews who have been a source of great pride and delight to Maury.

The family would like to express much appreciation to Steven Michalenko of At Home TLC who provide wonderful care and thoughtfulness to Maury and support to Myril and the rest of the family during the last two weeks of his life. Tad Gile was a great help over the years with work around the Filler property, and the family is indebted to him for his reliability and friendship.

Funeral notice: Maury requested a simple private burial ceremony at Southlawn Cemetery in South Williamstown, not far from where he had lived for the last 50 years of his Williamstown residency. Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals is in charge of the arrangements.