Mary A. Deissler

Mary Deissler, age 69, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 3, 2025, after a long and hard-fought battle with brain cancer.

Born on December 30,1955, in Oneonta, New York, to George and Carol Baker, Mary was the eldest of six siblings — Mark, Margaret, Patricia, Christopher, and Andrew. She married James Deissler in 1987, and together they raised their children, Benjamin and Eliza, in Boston, Massachusetts.

A lifelong believer in the power of the arts to build community and inspire connection, Mary devoted 40+ years of leadership and raised $300M+ in the nonprofit and performing arts sectors. She was best known for her remarkable tenure as CEO of Boston’s Handel + Haydn Society, where she worked for nearly 25 years. Under her leadership, the organization achieved financial stability, artistic excellence, innovation and community outreach. She reestablished its endowment, released multiple acclaimed recordings — including a Grammy Award winner — and gained international recognition through national and international tours. She was most proud of founding the H+H children’s choir.

Mary also served as President and CEO of the Charlotte Symphony from 2016 to 2019, where she eliminated a $1.9M debt, achieved record surpluses, and expanded the orchestra’s community partnerships, educational outreach, and equity initiatives. Her earlier roles included leadership and development positions with Save the Children in London, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Artis–Naples, and The Chicago Academy for the Arts. Most recently, she served as Co-Executive Director of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra and Chief Strategy Officer at From the Top, continuing her lifelong mission of making the arts more accessible to all.

Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts in German and Chinese from the University of Massachusetts Boston and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College. Throughout her career, she mentored countless young arts professionals who went on to lead organizations around the world. She was an active participant, board member and trustee to many national and London based organizations such as the League of American Orchestras, Chorus America, Early Music America, Chanticleer, Handel House Museum, and The Sixteen, among others.

Known for her warmth, wit, and fierce dedication, Mary combined strategic brilliance with an artist’s heart. She believed deeply in the transformative power of shared musical experience and worked tirelessly to ensure that the arts remained a vibrant and inclusive force in every community she touched.

A memorial service will be held at King’s Chapel in Boston on Friday, November 29, beginning at 10:45 a.m. A reception will follow at King’s Chapel Parish House on 64 Beacon Street.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the Handel + Haydn Society for their work in youth choruses or the Boston Landmarks Orchestra to support free access to classical music.