Divine Word Father David Mayer, 80, died Dec. 6 in Techny.

A missionary in Japan for almost 45 years, Father Mayer served as professor of American literature and language at Nanzan University in Nagoya and was an expert on the works of Flannery O’Connor, James T. Farrell, Japanese-American writer Toshio Mori and urban ethnic writers.

In his book “The American Neighborhood Novel” (University of Nagoya Press: 1986), Father Mayer developed the genre of the neighborhood novel, fiction that either celebrates or criticizes the values and relationships of an urban group closely knit by their common identity and physical presence.

Born in 1938 in Missouri, Father Mayer professed religious vows in 1958.

In addition to degrees from St. Mary’s Seminary in Techny, he earned a master’s degree in English from Georgetown University and a doctorate in English from the University of Maryland.

Ordained in 1966, Father Mayer taught at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, until 1968. He began teaching at Nanzan University in 1974.

A prolific writer, Father Mayer penned academic works, essays and book reviews, as well as fiction and poetry.

Father Mayer returned to the United States for home leave in spring of 2018 and stayed for health reasons.