J. J. Maher was a teacher at Choate and a bane of JFK’s existence during his last two years there in 1933 and 1934.
Maher was the teacher-in-residence in the west wing of Hill House and was known to be very strict with the students. Kennedy had lived in a room by himself in the west wing during his third year, but for their senior years, Jack and Lem Billings decided to room together.
Maher was reportedly against this but was overruled by the headmaster. In retaliation, Maher placed the boys in a room next to his where he could monitor their conversation, the comings and goings of their pals, and the frequent use of JFK’s early record player.
Soon, each side was goading the other and complaining about the other loudly. The teacher objected to Jack and Lem’s “silly, giggling inseparable companionship.”
Maher, petulantly and somewhat cruelly in retaliation for Jack’s hijinks, would go into his room and dump all of his possessions in a pile on the floor and force Kennedy to put them away each and everytime.
Not surprisingly, JFK became bitter and resentful, even going so far as to christen his penis “J. J.” after the detested Maher.
[1,39 and 41]