Max died February 18, 2018, in Escondido, CA. He grew up in Ontario, Oregon, before going to the University of Idaho on a football scholarship. After graduation he joined the Marines Corps and was deployed to Korea. After two years of active duty and eight years in the reserves, he left the Corps as a Captain.

Max settled in Escondido and made his living selling insurance. He had a close bond with his smokejumper buddies. His kids thought that his last jump in 2018 should have been with Lloyd Johnson and Wayne Webb spotting and Kenny Roth and Bob Fogg in the cockpit of a Trimotor. Max jumped at McCall 1947-51.