Maaja H. Washington

Maaja Härms Washington January 21, 1938 – June 22, 2025 Maaja Washington, 87, died at her home in Willoughby, Ohio, on June 22, 2025, surrounded by her three children and her long-time and trusted caretaker, Sarah Hooker. Maaja was a remarkable woman. She was born with gifts, beauty, determination, and an indomitable spirit which, combined with her with intellect, wit and creativity, continually served her and allowed her to adapt, survive, and triumph in life. Maaja (pronounced “Maya”) was born in Tallinn, Estonia, on January 21, 1938. Her time in Estonia was short-lived, however. In 1944, she, together with her immediate family members—her mother, sister and uncle—fled their native country as the Russian Soviet Army’s invasion of Estonia during World War II advanced to the capital of Tallinn. Taking only family photos, silverware, jewelry, coffee and cigarettes, they initially fled in August 1944 to an island away from the battle front. However, the Soviet Army advanced quickly and they made the decision to escape on one of the last boats out of Estonia, narrowly avoiding bombs from Russian planes. Their ship arrived safely in Hamburg, Germany, amid the ongoing war, where they and other immigrants were placed in a camp. Conditions were very poor, but spirits good because they had escaped communism. After a brief stay, they traveled to Vienna, Austria, however, Allied forces soon began bombing there. They then fled to Nazi-occupied Horažďovice, Czechoslovakia, where Maaja’s uncle found work. The war ended soon thereafter on May 5, 1945 and, within days, they found themselves face to face with American troops. The Americans instructed the Estonians to head east toward Russia, however, the group of Estonians adamantly refused, understanding very well what fate would await them under Russian rule. After some back and forth, the American troops acquiesced to the Estonians’ demand to bring them westward to Bavaria, Germany. There, Maaja’s family went to displaced persons camps in Bamberg, Regensburg, and finally to Hochfeld in Augsburg, Germany, operated under the auspices of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. During the war and following its end, Maaja and her older sister, Inna, were able to attend school taught by fellow Estonians and lived relatively contentedly in a small Estonian community. She learned to speak German and some English. With the signing by President Truman of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, her family secured a sponsorship to immigrate to the United States, to which they traveled aboard the USNS General M. L. Hersey in 1950 and settled in Princeton, New Jersey. She was welcomed by her American classmates and began to assimilate to her new life in the United States. In high school, she worked at a local Princeton butcher shop, where she quickly learned English while taking phone orders for different types and cuts of meats that came in handy later in her life. She received a full scholarship to Goucher College. While there, she reluctantly agreed to be a last-minute stand-in on a blind date with a handsome young medical student, John A. Washington. In the course of that date, she discovered a person who was cultured, enjoyed discussing world events, and, importantly, not only knew that Estonia was a country, but where it was! They quickly recognized that they were kindred spirits. Thus, shortly following Maaja’s college graduation in 1959, they were married in Princeton, New Jersey. They became inseparable in life until John’s death in 2010. Maaja and John started married life together in Baltimore while John finished medical school. From there, they moved to Durham, North Carolina, where Maaja earned her master’s degree and taught freshman German at Duke University to students nearly her age. They moved thereafter to the Washington, D.C. area, where she taught German in public schools. At that time, Julia Child began to introduce the nation to French cooking, which started Maaja’s lifelong passion for gourmet cooking. In 1967, John and Maaja moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where, over 19 years and too many cold winters, they raised their three children. There, Maaja expanded her culinary repertoire, enjoyed sailing (of course, accompanied by mouth-watering smorgasbords on a sailboat later fittingly named Smorg-on-Bord) on the Mississippi River and cross-country skiing, and oversaw the design and construction of their dream home. In 1985, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Through the years, John and Maaja traveled widely together in the U.S. and Western Europe. They also visited Maaja’s home country of Estonia in 2003, following its independence in 1991 from the former Soviet Union. Maaja was a life-long learner. Whether reading, cooking, gardening, teaching or translating, she had an expansive, inquisitive mind and continually pushed to teach herself about new subjects. It was an aptitude that will be carried forward by her children and grandchildren. Being at her dining table everyday exposed her family and friends to all variety of cuisines and recipes from around the world that cultivated lifelong passions for food and culture in her children and grandchildren. Her Chinese cooking remains, to this day, among the best and most memorable of her culinary talent. In addition to cooking, Maaja learned how to read and type in braille and volunteered for many years at the Cleveland Sight Center, where she translated and typed complicated texts of all variety into braille. Maaja was also a fervent advocate for the rights of women in the home and workplace and educated her children on discrimination and hypocrisy toward women. She also enjoyed reading and discussing politics and the lessons of history until her final days of life and stated only days before her passing that she had many books still to read. Wherever she lived, classical music played quietly in the background. She was an avid listener of classical music and longstanding season ticket holder of the Cleveland Orchestra. Maaja’s strength, kindness, wit, and resilience will have lasting effect on her children, grandchildren, extended family members, and friends, who miss her dearly. In addition to her husband, John, she was preceded in death by her sister, Inna Tults, and is survived by her children, Stephen Washington (Jennifer Thomas), Richard Washington (fiancée Kristin Dimacchia), and Mikaela Bolek (Peter Bolek), her grandchildren, Sophie Washington, Caroline Washington, Ryland Washington, Conner Washington (Julie), Sydney Bolek, Perrin Bolek and Elizabeth Bolek, and great grandchild, Miller Washington. A Memorial Service will be held in the near future at Grace Woods (Ohio Living) in Willoughby, Ohio. Maaja will be rejoined in interment with her life soulmate and husband, John, at Zion Episcopal Church in Charles Town, West Virginia. Lake Erie Cremation & Funeral Services assisted with arrangements, 29801 Lakeland Blvd., Wickliffe, OH., 44092. www.lakeeriecrematory.com, 440-361-2273.

Maaja H. Washington

January 21, 1938 - June 22, 2025