Salem, NH – Maria Sevast Koenigsbauer, 82, formerly of Deerfield and Gill, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, in Salem, New Hampshire.
Born on March 5, 1944, in New York City, Maria was the only child of Orpheus “Jim” and Fanny Sevast. She spent her early years in her parents’ New York restaurants, Johnny’s Charcoal House and The Pavilion, where she learned to cook and bake. She was a diligent student, played sports, and sang in the choir. After graduating high school, Maria left Long Island to attend Colby College, where she met the love of her life, Kirk R. Koenigsbauer.
Maria and Kirk married in the summer of 1963. They both started teaching careers at Rumsey Hall School in Washington, Connecticut, and then four years later moved to Deerfield, Massachusetts to work at Eaglebrook School. Maria taught at Eaglebrook for nearly 30 years and raised two sons on campus, Kirk James and Erik Rowell Koenigsbauer. At Eaglebrook, Maria was known as an energetic Latin and French teacher, the beloved keeper of movies as Audio Visual Director, and an avid runner through all kinds of New England weather.
In retirement, Maria and Kirk divided their time between Gill, Massachusetts and their beloved summer home on Echo Lake in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Maria loved entertaining guests at the lake. Her afternoon warm chocolate chip cookie deliveries to the beachfront were legendary. She thrived as a grandmother – Yia Yia, as her grandchildren called her – to Peter, Tad, and Meghan. She also loved and spoiled her English springer spaniels.
Maria is survived by her sons, Kirk and Erik; daughters-in-law, Neen and Beth; and grandchildren, Peter, Tad, and Meghan. She also leaves her brother-in-law Karl Koenigsbauer; sisters-in-law Veronika Koenigsbauer and Pam Koenigsbauer; and nieces and nephews Herbert, Kristen, Rachel, and Karl and their families. Maria will also be deeply missed by many teaching friends who were a comfort to her through the years.
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.carrierfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of the Carrier Family Funeral Home, 38 Range Road, Windham, NH 03087.
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