West Virginia University Professor Emeritus Robert Shriver Maust, of Morgantown, and recently of Richmond, Va., passed away in Richmond in the late evening February 4, 2019, at age 81, after battling a brain tumor for over five years.
He was born August 14, 1937, in Gibbon Glade, Pa, youngest child to John Edward and Mary Sumey Maust, dairy farmers and school teachers. He grew up on their mountain farm, south of Uniontown, with expectations of a career as a farmer. He was educated grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse in a churchyard near the farm, taught by his father and uncle. He graduated Uniontown High School at the top of his class and went on to study accounting at West Virginia University, receiving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, then to Ann Arbor for doctoral studies in accounting, economics and marketing at the University of Michigan. He returned to WVU, where he taught accounting at the undergraduate and graduate levels for 50 years, retiring in 2012.
His career was a busy combination of full time educator, Certified Public Accountant, consultant, and dedicated public servant to his University, professions, and community.
His greatest contributions were to his students, numbering nearly 10,000 over the years. He received numerous accolades for excellence in teaching as Professor of Accounting, serving as Director of the MBA program, the MPA (Masters of Public Accounting) program, Chairman of the Department of Accounting for 15 years, and Interim Dean of the College of Business and Economics. He was honored as the Louis F. Tanner Distinguished Professor of Public Accounting Chair in 1990. He was most fulfilled by his continuing relationships with his former students as they pursued the profession in which he had guided them. Even though his illness diminished his capacities in many ways in recent years, the mention of a past student always elicited a nod and a smile and a memory of the time spent with them.
He was the recipient of the first Richard S. Claire Award, given by the National Council of Beta Alpha Psi, the national professional accounting fraternity, and funded by Arthur Andersen in recognition of outstanding professional service. He served on the National Council for six years and as President of that organization as well. He served in various leadership roles in the American Accounting Association and the American Institute of CPAs.
He contributed to West Virginia University in many ways other than teaching, as a member of the Senate for 10 years and serving on many University-wide committees, advisory boards, search committees and task forces. He published in accounting and business journals, authored resource manuals and test banks in accounting, edited a financial accounting textbook as well as the Beta Alpha Psi newsletter. He represented his university and field in China, in Beijing and Shanghai, with presentations at major universities there.
He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1965, having a private practice of accounting, tax, and business consulting for several decades. He was very active in his profession as a CPA. He was president of the West Virginia Society of CPAs. He received the first Distinguished Service Award granted by the Society in recognition of outstanding service to continuing professional development. The Society also recognized him, in conjunction with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as Outstanding Accounting Educator twice for “his significant contributions to accounting education as a teacher and to the accounting profession”. The Society also awarded him a Lifetime Membership, the 4th so awarded, for dedication to service in his field. He was appointed by Governor Joe Manchin to serve on the West Virginia Board of Accountancy for two six-year terms. He was also president of the West Virginia Tax Institute and served on the board for several years.
He served his community by spending 12 years on the Mon Health Medical Center System Board of Directors, also as Chairman, and on the hospital board. He also served the business community on the boards of oil and gas exploration companies listed on the NYSE and on the boards of companies in other industries.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Brenda; their son, Jason Shriver Maust, and wife Anne Shelburne; and two adored grandchildren, Nathaniel and Madeline, now 9 and 5, of the Richmond area. Also surviving are five nephews (three in Pa., one in Minn., one in N.C.), one sister-in-law (Iowa), and one cousin (Pa.).
He loved traveling with his son’s family and watching the grandchildren enjoy new experiences, his last trip taken to South Carolina to experience the solar eclipse on the beach with the children, which was also a memorable experience for them and one they will associate with him. He also enjoyed Ginter Gardens visits with the children, in Richmond, and coloring and doing projects with them during his recent years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John, Jr. (Jack); and sister, Jean Baxter. He was close to several aunts and uncles, and his grandparents, Shriver and Minnie Wolfe Maust, and Amanda and Dennis Sumey.
He was a member of the Canaan Church of the Brethren in his home village and has supported the church over the years. Many happy meals were spent in fellowship with members and area residents at the autumn buckwheat and German chicken noodle dinners prepared by the church auxiliary, which included his mother and sister.
A service honoring him will be held at Bliley’s Funeral Chapel, 6900 Hull Street in North Chesterfield, Va., at 10 a.m. on Feb. 16. (Blileys.com.) In early April, a memorial service will be held in Morgantown, details available near the time of the service. He will be cremated in Richmond and rest eternally at the family farm in Pa., where he will join his brother, Jack.
Tribute gifts to honor Professor Maust will be accepted by the WVU Foundation, applied to one of two scholarship funds started to honor him by former students and the WV Society of CPAs. These funds assist future accounting students with their studies and professional endeavors–Robert Maust Student Experience Fund (2W1230) or Professor Robert Maust Scholarship (3Z779). WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, 7th floor, Morgantown WV 26507. 304.284.4000. Messages to the family may be mailed to 2416 Loch Braemar Drive, Richmond, VA 23236.
