Mechthild Irmingard Bach-Mayers

Mechthild Bach-Mayers, 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Born in Germany in 1936, she came to the United States as a young child during the Second World War, and went on to build a life rich in language, learning, and love of the natural world.

Mechthild was a professor of German and French who found genuine joy in teaching. For her, languages were never just words on a page — they were a way of opening doors, and she delighted in watching her students step through them. Her classroom warmth was simply an extension of who she was.

She will be remembered for that warmth above all, and for her deep love of nature and animals. She was happiest near the water — the sea always called to her, and some of her most contented hours were spent by the shore.

Mechthild was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold "Swifty" Mayers. She is survived by her two sons, Gunther Birznieks and Marcus Birznieks, who are grateful beyond words for a lifetime of her love and devotion.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mechthild's memory to the National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org), a cause close to her heart.