Elizabeth Käser Maffay

Longtime Greenbelt resident passed away peacefully on December 31, 2014, after a long nine-year illness.  Born in Aalen, Germany on May 20, 1928, she was the daughter of Friedrich and Paula Käser.  She was also a former council woman for the city of Greenbelt and very involved in various other civic activities.

Elizabeth wrote weekly columns for two county newspapers, served on the PG County Consumer Protection Commission, and was Den Mother for Cub Scout Troop 746. She also produced and hosted the annual talent show at the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival as well as serving on the University of Maryland's Summer Arts Series committee.

An early enviromental activist, she co-founded CFPG (Citizens for a Planned Greenbelt). She also loved to travel abroad, enjoyed Maryland Terrapin Club activities, and adored hosting her grandchildren. Elizabeth was a charming, outspoken woman, fearless and full of life, who cared deeply for her family and her friends. She was kind-hearted to all those she met in her busy life.

She is survived by her loving husband of sixty years, John W. Maffay; six children, Donald (Heidi) Käser, of Oberkochen, Germany, Doris (Dennis) Freemyer, of Arlington, VA, Jonathan Maffay (Isabel) Graziani, of Athens, OH, Julie (Douglas) Erickson, of Laurel, MD, Russell Maffay of Silver Spring, MD, and Sheila Maffay (David) Tuthill of Greenbelt, MD; nine grandchildren, Michael, Thomas, and Jens Käser; Ingrid and Kurt Freemyer; Natalie Erickson; Jacob, Jeremy, and Jackson Tuthill.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the St. Hugh of Grenoble Catholic Church Food Pantry, or City of Greenbelt Animal Shelter.