Obituaries

Randy (Randolph) Lee Maynard was born at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois on May 10, 1953 and died on July 4, 2023, shortly after his 70th birthday.  A handsome and impressive force, Randy lit up every room with his warmth – as well as his 6’4” frame and signature red mane. Remarkable not only in his physical presence, he was a thoughtful soul that graced his friends and family with good humor and an adventurous yet gentle heart.

Randy spent his boyhood in White Plains, NY, until his family relocated and he began attending the Redrice School in Hampshire, UK, at age 14. Always the tallest kid in class, he was an obvious choice for the rugby squad’s left lock. His experiences as a teen, working at a bar in Brussels and summering in Lake Como, expanded Randy’s world beyond his simple latchkey upbringing in White Plains. It was back on the East Coast as a young man that he fell in love with Cape Cod and formed lifelong friendships.

While earning a degree in Psychology at Washington & Jefferson College, Randy was party to the notorious “Prom Fire of 1975” and “Snow Ball Incident.” His days at Phi Delta Theta were often compared to the plotlines of the film “Animal House.” After graduation, he embarked upon adult life with his first wife Joy Utberg (with whom he later found a friendship after divorce) and their young son Scott in the Lehigh Valley. It was a place that Randy loved for its natural beauty, and he lived there for the rest of his life.

Randy started in 1980 as a programmer at New York Life in Lebanon, New Jersey, where he would go on to work for 37 years and advance to the role of Applications Development Engineer. His professional life was a steady effort that also allowed those years to be filled with evolving personal interests and adventures with friends. He volunteered as a coach for a rock-climbing program through Lafayette College in the early 1990s. Randy was a coach for Forks Township Youth Soccer from 1989 to 2004, supporting and inspiring countless young people. He was a kind and generous mentor, and never fought with the referees. He was a volunteer editor of the PIAA District XI Wrestling website, where he pre-dated Twitter with live updates of wrestling tournaments – a distinction that earned him a place in the district’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

Randy held an impressive knowledge of technology, building his own machines and websites, as well as serving as on-call IT to friends and family. He loved brandishing the Terrible Towel while watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as playing video games alongside his son Scott. Randy had an affinity for Celtic culture, building a treasured sword collection and learning about Irish music & folklore throughout his life.

Randy married his great love, Karen O’Brien-Maynard, during an epic New Year’s Eve blizzard in 2000. Thereafter, Randy and Karen could be relied upon to throw a good party. Together Randy and Karen shared a love of adventure and curiosity and were constant companions in life’s grand and quotidian moments alike. They lovingly blended their family, with Randy’s son Scott and Karen’s daughters Laura and Kristen, who Randy embraced as his own.

Randy and Karen initially connected as volunteers on Bethlehem’s Celtic Fest Entertainment Committee, where they continued to be involved for almost two decades. They befriended many festival musicians over the years, and Randy became known for his ability to skillfully drive a “Gator” through throngs of drunk people in kilts. More than once he was a toastmaster for the Great Guinness Toast at Porter’s Pub in Easton, PA. Randy introduced Karen to the joys of motorcycling as part of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club, where they volunteered for the annual “Bikers Against Breast Cancer” fundraiser. They joined a growing number of off-roading renegades who became the “PhillyRovers” – exploring off-roading courses from Pennsylvania to Georgia. There, Randy developed and deepened some of his closest friendships, bonding over a devotion to good barbeque and whiskey.

As a talented woodworker, Randy crafted beautiful furnishings and objects, as well as indulged Karen’s farmstead dreams by building bee frames and chicken coops. Together they shaped the land of a former apple orchard into native gardens and a home for creatures great and small – including, for a short time, a bear named Hindenberg. Their love of dogs eventually grew to a pack of six Maremma sheepdogs – Fiona, Finn, Booker, Walker, Cora, and Jack – all beloved by Randy. He also adored their Shire horse Sweet William, who – just as Randy did – stands 19 hands tall.

Randy built a family full of love – whether forged by blood, marriage, or simply friendship. This love was especially evident in the last weeks of his life. He held and cherished his wife Karen O’Brien-Maynard; son Scott Maynard and daughter-in-law Megan Maynard of Chesapeake, VA; daughter Kristen Stedenfeld and son-in-law Ben Schmich of Pittsburgh, PA; and daughter Laura Stedenfeld and partner Sheila M. Fuentes of Easton, PA. Randy adored his grandchildren Autumn, Adelaide, Willa, Oliver, Henry, Theodore, and Bernadette, as well as his niece Susanne Freda. Randy was preceded in death by his brother Gregory Maynard, sister Suzanne Maynard, sister Michelle Maynard-Ek, as well as his mother Lydia E. Hulsebosch (Ockert) and father Wilfred E. Maynard.

A celebration of Randy’s beautiful life will be held 12:30 PM Tuesday, July 18 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation from 11 AM to 12:30 PM.  

Memorial contributions may be made to EARS Maremma, a 501c3 rescue sanctuary dear to Randy’s heart that helps Maremmas at risk of euthanasia or homelessness. Checks can be mailed to: Kris & Ron Nelson ℅ EARS Sanctuary, 4798 Town Road 51, Littlefork, MN 56653 or through PayPal at paypal.me/EARSanctuary.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.