Celebrating the life of Maria Crosman

It is with sadness that we share that Maria Crosman, a long-time member of the George School community, died on December 11, 2023. A dedicated member—and later head—of the Religions Department and champion of the community service program, Maria’s Quaker identity influenced all she did at George School and in the larger community.

Maria arrived at George School in 1975 with her husband Alan, who had been hired as assistant business manager (he became business manager in 1980). Their two children, Susan and Aaron, graduated from George School in 1992 and 1997, respectively.

From her arrival on campus, Maria served the George School community in myriad ways; first in an array of part time roles including supervising study hall and coaching cheerleading and archery teams. With a Master of Divinity from Earlham School of Religion, however, it wasn’t long before Maria began teaching in the Religions Department, where she remained until her retirement in 2014, serving as acting department head from 1993-1996 and 2007-2008, then as Department head from 2008-2011.

As community service coordinator from 1982 through the late nineties, Maria ran the school co-op program and designed domestic service trips to Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Montana, Arizona and Florida.

“Maria was a real champion of service,” said Associate Head of School Scott Spence. “In fact, her dissertation for her doctorate, which she earned from Lancaster Theological Seminary, focused on the effects of community service on student growth and development.”

She was granted a two-year Fellowship in Service Learning by the National Society for Experiential Education with a focus on better integrating service into the curriculum and community.

“Maria was an unwavering advocate for the central role of meeting for worship in our community,” said Religions department head Tom Hoopes. From overseeing bench repair and providing beautiful flower arrangements for the Meetinghouse—often from her own garden—to officiating weddings and all uses of the sacred space, she provided care and concern for both the building and the worship within its walls.

Through her passionate work, service, and dedication to George School and her commitment to Friends education and ministry, Maria truly let her life speak in deep and meaningful ways.

View Maria’s obituary here.