Maurice Better passed away peacefully at a local hospital on February 18, 2026.

Maurice was born in Los Angeles, California, to Rae & Samuel Better. Maurice earned a BS and MBA in Industrial Relations from UCLA and an MS and PhD in Labor Economics from UW-Madison. He met and married Sybil, the love of his life, while in Madison, and they were married for 57 years.

After leaving Madison, Maurice taught economics at universities in Nebraska and North Carolina and labor education in Alabama. He then returned to Wisconsin to join the faculty as an Assistant Professor with the University Extension School for Workers and was promoted to Full Professor in 1996. At the School for Workers, he offered programs on topics relevant to labor union members including contract negotiations, steward training, grievance handling and arbitration, and local union administration. His book, Contract Bargaining Handbook for Local Union Members, published in 1993, was well received.

Maurice and Sybil loved to travel and traveled widely both overseas and in the US. They particularly relished visiting cities with their diverse cultural activities. They also shared a passion for theater, making regular trips to New York City and Chicago as well as attending many local productions in Madison and Spring Green. Maurice loved to swim and went to the pool regularly until a few months prior to his death. He said that he found swimming to be “meditative”. He also participated in various volunteer activities, most recently at the polls on election days and at Overture Center.

Maurice was a voracious reader, particularly of police procedurals, a subgenre of mysteries. To diversify his reading, he joined and was an active member of two book groups. He eagerly shared his love of mysteries with other book club members, and several subsequently became mystery fans. He also taught a course for PLATO members on police procedural mysteries using books and films.

Maurice was a very special person. Donations in his memory may be made to Forward Theater or American Players Theatre.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd    Madison

608-238i-3434