(September 25, 1942 - July 23, 2009)

Maria Laqueur, 66, of Weems, VA, died July 23, 2009 after a lengthy and heroic battle with breast cancer. Her life was marked by many professional accomplishments but family and friends were most important to her. She will be dearly missed by all who had the joy and privilege to know her.
Maria will be remembered as a loving, kind person who put others first. She was always there to help, nurture and encourage. Her determination and courage throughout life and especially during her illness were an inspiration to all.

Maria was born in San Francisco and spent her youth in California, Japan and Maryland. She earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in German and Linguistics from American University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

Her professional career spanned nearly 30 years including 16 years at the Library of Congress, five years as U.S. Marketing Director for Bemrose UK Ltd which included worldwide travel and eight years as Executive Director of the Association of Part-Time Professionals during which time she helped many women find balance between family and professional careers. In 1994, she co-authored the book Breaking Out of 9 to 5: How to Redesign Your Job to Fit You.

In 1996 Maria and husband Jerry Hamm moved to Lancaster County, VA where she became involved in many community organizations including the Lancaster Community Library, Yankee Point Yacht Club, the Hospice Regatta Organizing Board and Moran Creek Yacht Club, Maria’s passion for the arts led her to the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, where she brought eight wonderful seasons of varied arts programming to the local community and schools. In 2006, she was appointed to the board of the Virginia Commission for the Arts by Governor Kaine.

Maria is survived by her loving family: husband, W. G. (Jerry) Hamm, of Weems; sisters, Katherine Laqueur Larson of Potomac, MD. and Bernadette Laqueur of Seattle, WA; niece and nephews, Alessandra Laqueur Larson of Brooklyn, New York, Andrew Herstein of Seattle, WA, Richard Laqueur of Santa Cruz, CA, and Michael Larson of Potomac, MD; step-sister, Brigitte Faller of Munich, Germany; step-nephews Tom Faller, Sven Faller, and Jan Faller of Germany; step-sons, William G. Hamm, Jr. of Centreville, VA, Keith Hamm of Warrenton, VA, Alan Hamm of Kensington, MD, and David Hamm of San Diego, CA; and step-grandchildren, Josh Hamm and Andrew Hamm of Warrenton, VA, Ryan Hamm and Ashton Hamm of Kensington, MD, Jessica Hamm of Centreville, VA, and Cheyne Hamm of San Diego, CA.