Maya immigrated with her family to America from Russia in 1991. As a teenager, she already displayed remarkable flair as a visual artist, graduating Magna cum laude from Marymount College, and earning her Masters at FIT. While vacationing in Florida, she discovered her true passion as a Nature photographer. But in November 2022, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. She showed amazing courage in fighting it – enduring every available treatment her doctors at NYU Langone could provide. She spent her final months at Calvary Hospital, where her room became a gathering place for her fellow Nature-lovers.
Below is a short excerpt from a eulogy by Rabbi Sam Steinberg:
“Maya inspired us to see the world through her eyes: her photographs will continue to speak to us, capturing her love for the natural world and reminding us to pause, to look closer, and to celebrate the beauty in the ordinary.”