Maurice Albert Berger, age 85, passed away on Friday, March 25, 2015, at the Ollie Steele Burden Manor in Baton Rouge, LA. A Graveside Service will be held at the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery on Friday, July 3, 2015 at 11:00 AM.

Maurice graduated from Wewoka High School in Oklahoma. He completed his B.A. degree at the University of Oklahoma and went on to get an MFA degree in theater there and then his PhD at Denver University. He also studied at Northwestern University and the University of Texas. Doctor Berger specialized in directing and playwriting and has been a professor at Southern University in the Dept. of Theater for 40 years. Teaching was his real love, and many students kept in touch with him over the years. He worked with a committee that planned the first magnet school in Baton Rouge and with the Baton Rouge Little Theater.

Being professionally active, he wrote, published, produced and won awards for over twenty plays. He was a president of Theaters of Louisiana and the Southwest Theater Association, which also admitted him to the College of Fellows. He was a critic and judge for both the American College Theater Festival and the Texas High School play contests. He loved football and boating. He bought a boat, joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and eventually become commander of Flotilla 4-10 in Baton Rouge.

Berger is survived by his wife, Gerilyn Tandberg of Baton Rouge; three children, Clifford German of Las Vegas, Greg German and wife, Martha of Los Angeles, and Amy Menezes and her husband, Bill of Denver; and three grandchildren, Asa German, Emma Rose and Luke Menezes.

He is preceded in death by his parents Alexander Berger and Opal Rose-Berger.