Marie ("Masha") Ewdoschenko Bové, 71, a resident of Kailua, Hawaii, died peacefully on 13 December 2025 at Saint Francis Hospice in Honolulu. Her husband, Philip, son Andrew, and daughter Sara were at her bedside. Hurley, one of her beloved kitties, was also with her.
Masha was born on April 9, 1954 in Neptune, NJ, to Natalie Ajogin, a teacher and graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University, and Victor Ewdoschenko, a refugee from Narva, Estonia, who fled the Soviet Union to the United States in the chaotic aftermath of World War II. Masha was heavily influenced by her maternal grandparents, Vassily “Basil" Ajogin and Olga Grekova, who fled Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution and World War I. She spent much of her childhood on their farm in Englishtown, NJ, with chickens, wildflowers, and cats. Surrounded by Russian language and culture, she grew up in a community centered around Saint Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Lakewood, NJ, and she spoke almost no English until she started public school. Masha's grandparents' influence and her heritage permeated every chapter of her life. She had an especially close relationship with her mother Natalie and step-father, William "Bill" Kaempffer. From the time he first became part of her life as a young girl, Bill has always been “dad” in every respect. Masha loved everyone in what the extended family liked to call “Kaempffer's Corner,” a virtual space where family members share stories, and a real-world business the Kaempffers once owned.
After graduating from high school in Dallas, PA, Masha headed to Pennsylvania State University, where she joyfully embraced the Nittany Lions, Happy Valley, and shouts of “We ARE Penn State!” She started as a nursing student, but eventually switched to Russian, graduating after six wonderful years with a Master’s Degree in Russian linguistics and literature. Some of Masha's most important friendships date back to her Penn State days, friends who respected her intellect but also secretly knew that cats, daffodils, and occasionally bending the rules made her smile most.
After graduating from Penn State, Masha accepted a position as a teacher and linguist at the Department of Defense, and moved to Maryland to start the next chapter of her life. At work, given her Russian-heritage language ability and formal graduate training in Slavic languages, Masha made major contributions to the country's mission and to the careers of the many colleagues she mentored. She delighted in the success of others and insisted on credit where credit is due, cheering on her peers and subordinates in the classroom and in the workplace. Although she never sought loud praise or attention herself, everyone from senior leadership to brand new interns knew she was a star. Peers recognized her as supremely accomplished and on many occasions, the most experienced linguists could be heard saying, "We'll never figure this out; it's time to get Masha."
While her career success was impressive, it was far less important to Masha than her family. Masha Ewdoschenko married Philip Bove on February 22, 1981 at St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Lakewood, NJ. On that unseasonably sunny and warm day, Masha began a journey of love, friendship, partnership, and adventure that would last just two months shy of 45 years.
Two years after getting married, Masha and Philip moved to the German Alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. These two years allowed Masha and Philip to explore much of Western Europe. They reconnected with Bové family in Switzerland, which was a profoundly meaningful experience. Together they visited sites in Basel, Switzerland and nearby towns in France and Germany like Colmar and Freiburg, eating wonderful food, admiring architecture, learning history, and sipping Alsatian rieslings. During that time, Masha and Philip would spend every Christmas in Paris with a Russian family they knew from their work and studies. It was a magical confluence of experiencing a remarkable city and late-night discussions in Russian about philosophy, art, Soviet dissidents, music and poetry.
In 1985, Masha and Phil departed Germany and settled into their Columbia, Maryland home where they built memories for the next 24 years. Marriage, careers, and children mingled and pushed Masha and Philip forward, sometimes elegantly and in perfect alignment, oftentimes in a more thrilling and chaotic whirlwind. Andrew, born in October 1985 and Sara, born in September 1987, became the center of Masha's universe. Masha would sing to Andrew and Sara in English and Russian, and read them books like Goodnight Moon and Love You Forever. She loved helping them with their homework, attending their violin recitals, playing board games at home and trivia games in the car, and walking to the neighborhood pool for sunshine and swim meets, collecting flowers along the way. Andrew and Sara grew up knowing they were unconditionally loved and supported by their mom, and in adulthood, their mom became their trusted confidant and friend.
While family roots were in Columbia, Maryland, traveling continued to feature in Masha's life. There were summer vacations to Chincoteague and Sanibel Island, where Masha would walk along the beach in search of interesting seashells. There were family visits to Virginia and New Jersey, to see dear friends in Mexico, trips to California and Canada's Québec Province, New England, Spain to visit Sara while she studied abroad, Portugal's gorgeous beaches, Austria, Paris, Venice, and everywhere in between. Masha one minute might be in awe of majestic landscapes, views of crashing waves, historic monuments, paintings, or beautiful cathedrals. The next minute she could easily be totally distracted by flowers, pigeons, or a cat hiding behind a tree. Inevitably she would open her bag and pull out “a little snack” for her new animal friends. In Italy, Masha loved watching elderly women among the Roman ruins feeding pasta to feral cats as much as she enjoyed admiring and studying the antiquities themselves. She appreciated the important sights, but she also knew what gave her tremendous personal joy. In Arizona, Masha especially loved Sedona - the beauty of the rocky pink landscape and the unusual new age philosophies in that town spoke to her much more than the vast magnificence of the Grand Canyon. Masha did not have to go far from home, however, to be happy. She always treasured quality time with dear friends, Phil, Andrew, Sara, and the cats.
In 2009, after 30 dedicated years of service, Masha retired from the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, to her delight, Philip accepted a position in Hawaii, and so for the next six years, they lived in beautiful Kailua, HI. Masha loved relaxing in the pool, going on long drives along the coast, swimming in the usually calm waters of Lanikai and Kailua Beach, joining friends for dinner at local restaurants, and petting her beloved kitties while they basked in sunny spots around the house. She fell in love with Hawaii and hoped that they would stay, but in 2015, they returned to Maryland, living in Ellicott City and then in Annapolis.
While back on the East Coast, Andrew married his beautiful wife, Heather. At the wedding, Masha and Andrew danced to Bobby Vinton’s “I Love How You Love Me.” Masha met her first grandchild, sweet Natalie Rose, amidst an intensifying Covid pandemic. She reconnected with dear friends from work and college. Then, in 2023, Philip was offered another job back in Hawaii. Uncertain that Masha would want to return, he broached the possibility with some apprehension. Her response was pure Masha: "You know I never wanted to leave!"
And so Masha’s last two years on Earth were spent peacefully in Kailua, surrounded by friends, cats, flowers, Russian music, and the beauty of Hawaii itself that she loved so much.
Masha is survived by her loving husband Philip; her two children Andrew Philip and Sara Marie whom she cherished; her warm-hearted daughter-in-law Heather Ford Bove, and adorable granddaughter Natalie; her beloved father William Kaempffer, sister Margaret “Peggy” Culwell with whom she had a uniquely beautiful bond, brother William Kaempffer, step-sister Marie Kaempffer Ciappetta; step-brother David Kaempffer; sister-in-law Linda Bove; and. brothers-in-law Gerald A. Bove and Joseph A. Bove. Masha was pre-deceased by her mother, Natalie Kaempffer, her birth father Victor Ewdoschenko, father-in-law Gerald A. Bove, mother-in-law Columbia M. Bove, and sister-in-law Maria A. Bove.
As per her wishes, Masha was cremated and will one day be scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the Island of O’ahu. At least three events celebrating Masha's life are being planned over the next several months: one in Hawaii, one in Maryland, and one in New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends wishing to make donations in Masha's memory, and in honor of the kitties she loved so much over the years - Kubi, Critter, Tigger, Ollie, Baci, Maestro, Sonny and Hurley - may give to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary (https://lanaicatsanctuary.org), or to the American Diabetes Association (https://diabetes.org).
Masha was born on April 9, 1954 in Neptune, NJ, to Natalie Ajogin, a teacher and graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University, and Victor Ewdoschenko, a refugee from Narva, Estonia, who fled the Soviet Union to the United States in the chaotic aftermath of World War II. Masha was heavily influenced by her maternal grandparents, Vassily “Basil" Ajogin and Olga Grekova, who fled Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution and World War I. She spent much of her childhood on their farm in Englishtown, NJ, with chickens, wildflowers, and cats. Surrounded by Russian language and culture, she grew up in a community centered around Saint Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Lakewood, NJ, and she spoke almost no English until she started public school. Masha's grandparents' influence and her heritage permeated every chapter of her life. She had an especially close relationship with her mother Natalie and step-father, William "Bill" Kaempffer. From the time he first became part of her life as a young girl, Bill has always been “dad” in every respect. Masha loved everyone in what the extended family liked to call “Kaempffer's Corner,” a virtual space where family members share stories, and a real-world business the Kaempffers once owned.
After graduating from high school in Dallas, PA, Masha headed to Pennsylvania State University, where she joyfully embraced the Nittany Lions, Happy Valley, and shouts of “We ARE Penn State!” She started as a nursing student, but eventually switched to Russian, graduating after six wonderful years with a Master’s Degree in Russian linguistics and literature. Some of Masha's most important friendships date back to her Penn State days, friends who respected her intellect but also secretly knew that cats, daffodils, and occasionally bending the rules made her smile most.
After graduating from Penn State, Masha accepted a position as a teacher and linguist at the Department of Defense, and moved to Maryland to start the next chapter of her life. At work, given her Russian-heritage language ability and formal graduate training in Slavic languages, Masha made major contributions to the country's mission and to the careers of the many colleagues she mentored. She delighted in the success of others and insisted on credit where credit is due, cheering on her peers and subordinates in the classroom and in the workplace. Although she never sought loud praise or attention herself, everyone from senior leadership to brand new interns knew she was a star. Peers recognized her as supremely accomplished and on many occasions, the most experienced linguists could be heard saying, "We'll never figure this out; it's time to get Masha."
While her career success was impressive, it was far less important to Masha than her family. Masha Ewdoschenko married Philip Bove on February 22, 1981 at St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Lakewood, NJ. On that unseasonably sunny and warm day, Masha began a journey of love, friendship, partnership, and adventure that would last just two months shy of 45 years.
Two years after getting married, Masha and Philip moved to the German Alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. These two years allowed Masha and Philip to explore much of Western Europe. They reconnected with Bové family in Switzerland, which was a profoundly meaningful experience. Together they visited sites in Basel, Switzerland and nearby towns in France and Germany like Colmar and Freiburg, eating wonderful food, admiring architecture, learning history, and sipping Alsatian rieslings. During that time, Masha and Philip would spend every Christmas in Paris with a Russian family they knew from their work and studies. It was a magical confluence of experiencing a remarkable city and late-night discussions in Russian about philosophy, art, Soviet dissidents, music and poetry.
In 1985, Masha and Phil departed Germany and settled into their Columbia, Maryland home where they built memories for the next 24 years. Marriage, careers, and children mingled and pushed Masha and Philip forward, sometimes elegantly and in perfect alignment, oftentimes in a more thrilling and chaotic whirlwind. Andrew, born in October 1985 and Sara, born in September 1987, became the center of Masha's universe. Masha would sing to Andrew and Sara in English and Russian, and read them books like Goodnight Moon and Love You Forever. She loved helping them with their homework, attending their violin recitals, playing board games at home and trivia games in the car, and walking to the neighborhood pool for sunshine and swim meets, collecting flowers along the way. Andrew and Sara grew up knowing they were unconditionally loved and supported by their mom, and in adulthood, their mom became their trusted confidant and friend.
While family roots were in Columbia, Maryland, traveling continued to feature in Masha's life. There were summer vacations to Chincoteague and Sanibel Island, where Masha would walk along the beach in search of interesting seashells. There were family visits to Virginia and New Jersey, to see dear friends in Mexico, trips to California and Canada's Québec Province, New England, Spain to visit Sara while she studied abroad, Portugal's gorgeous beaches, Austria, Paris, Venice, and everywhere in between. Masha one minute might be in awe of majestic landscapes, views of crashing waves, historic monuments, paintings, or beautiful cathedrals. The next minute she could easily be totally distracted by flowers, pigeons, or a cat hiding behind a tree. Inevitably she would open her bag and pull out “a little snack” for her new animal friends. In Italy, Masha loved watching elderly women among the Roman ruins feeding pasta to feral cats as much as she enjoyed admiring and studying the antiquities themselves. She appreciated the important sights, but she also knew what gave her tremendous personal joy. In Arizona, Masha especially loved Sedona - the beauty of the rocky pink landscape and the unusual new age philosophies in that town spoke to her much more than the vast magnificence of the Grand Canyon. Masha did not have to go far from home, however, to be happy. She always treasured quality time with dear friends, Phil, Andrew, Sara, and the cats.
In 2009, after 30 dedicated years of service, Masha retired from the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, to her delight, Philip accepted a position in Hawaii, and so for the next six years, they lived in beautiful Kailua, HI. Masha loved relaxing in the pool, going on long drives along the coast, swimming in the usually calm waters of Lanikai and Kailua Beach, joining friends for dinner at local restaurants, and petting her beloved kitties while they basked in sunny spots around the house. She fell in love with Hawaii and hoped that they would stay, but in 2015, they returned to Maryland, living in Ellicott City and then in Annapolis.
While back on the East Coast, Andrew married his beautiful wife, Heather. At the wedding, Masha and Andrew danced to Bobby Vinton’s “I Love How You Love Me.” Masha met her first grandchild, sweet Natalie Rose, amidst an intensifying Covid pandemic. She reconnected with dear friends from work and college. Then, in 2023, Philip was offered another job back in Hawaii. Uncertain that Masha would want to return, he broached the possibility with some apprehension. Her response was pure Masha: "You know I never wanted to leave!"
And so Masha’s last two years on Earth were spent peacefully in Kailua, surrounded by friends, cats, flowers, Russian music, and the beauty of Hawaii itself that she loved so much.
Masha is survived by her loving husband Philip; her two children Andrew Philip and Sara Marie whom she cherished; her warm-hearted daughter-in-law Heather Ford Bove, and adorable granddaughter Natalie; her beloved father William Kaempffer, sister Margaret “Peggy” Culwell with whom she had a uniquely beautiful bond, brother William Kaempffer, step-sister Marie Kaempffer Ciappetta; step-brother David Kaempffer; sister-in-law Linda Bove; and. brothers-in-law Gerald A. Bove and Joseph A. Bove. Masha was pre-deceased by her mother, Natalie Kaempffer, her birth father Victor Ewdoschenko, father-in-law Gerald A. Bove, mother-in-law Columbia M. Bove, and sister-in-law Maria A. Bove.
As per her wishes, Masha was cremated and will one day be scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the Island of O’ahu. At least three events celebrating Masha's life are being planned over the next several months: one in Hawaii, one in Maryland, and one in New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends wishing to make donations in Masha's memory, and in honor of the kitties she loved so much over the years - Kubi, Critter, Tigger, Ollie, Baci, Maestro, Sonny and Hurley - may give to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary (https://lanaicatsanctuary.org), or to the American Diabetes Association (https://diabetes.org).
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