He met Peg Billings at Fat Albert's during an H.E.R.O's fund raiser. The Pistol River Band was playing and Peg asked Max to dance. From then on they became tight friends and companions until his death in 1986. Together they had truly fine times.

Max was a prolific writer and had a column in the Arcata Union called the "Old Dropout". Max included Peg in many of his stories, leaving a legacy that her family will enjoy forever. They both were avid readers. He loved to cook and Peg hated it so indeed they were a fine fit. Weenie roasts on the beach, long walks around town. They both loved to read and Max was never without a pen in his hand, writing stories and limericks and plays. Max was a total ham and often dragged Peg into his capers. For awhile they became famous around Eureka for doing commercials for a local grocery store. The commercial featured "Little Egbert", one of a family of marionettes that Max created. Peg sewed the clothes for them from children's clothes they would find at St. Vincent's.