Maier Zunder 1829-1901

Maier Zunder (1829-1901)

Maier Zunder was born in Fuerth, Bavaria, Germany, 1829. He immigrated in 1848, first to New York, and to New Haven in 1852 after his brother Samuel died. Samuel owned a grocery store on Church St. When Samuel died, his widow, Regina, asked Maier to come to help run the business. Maier and Regina soon married. The store became a wholesale house under the name, M. Zunder & Sons and distributed groceries, tobacco products, and wines. He also served a booking agent for the North German Lloyd Steamship Lines.

In 1866 he became one of the incorporators of the Mechanics Bank, and in 1870 he became a vice president of the bank and president on July 3, 1872.

In 1856 he helped found the Horeb Lodge of B'nai Brith and was its first president. In 1863 he was a founder of Jochebed Lodge of the United Order of True Sisters and his wife became their first president. Zunder was the treasurer of the UOTS for many years and in 1899 was elected an honorary member.

In 1868 he was elected to the New Haven Board of Education and served until his retirement in 1892. After the death of Hermanus M. Welch until 1892, Zunder was president of the board.

In 1892 he helped organize a committee to aid Jews fleeing from the religious persecution in Russia. He used the fourth floor in his home at 352 Orange St. to house penniless Russian Jews and also helped them to find employment.

When New Haven built a new grammar school on George Street in 1895, the city named it in his honor.

The Zunder School which once stood on George Street