Remembering Mary Deissler

We recently lost our friend, colleague, and teacher Mary Deissler.

Mary was a leader in the arts. She worked tirelessly for 40+ years to help classical music thrive and to make it accessible to everyone.

Mary led and contributed to great work at From the Top, and to countless organizations such as Boston Landmarks Orchestra, the LA Phil, Handel & Haydn Society, Charlotte Symphony, Chanticleer, Chorus America, Shelter Music Boston, and Artis-Naples just to name a few.

Mary joined From the Top at a critical crossroads in our history. With her determined can-do attitude, she helped us face the pandemic, access government relief funding, and turn what could have been a devastating time for From the Top into a time of innovation. Under her leadership our team created Daily Joy, we produced a year of twice-monthly virtual concerts, two virtual galas, and transitioned from a live touring organization to a vibrant multimedia one focused on both education and entertainment.

And somehow, she did all this while also working as the co-CEO at Boston Landmarks Orchestra and renovating her home.

Mary was a dedicated manager who was serious about deadlines, data, and deliverables, but she was also a deeply caring one. She noticed the people she worked with and looked out for our well-being. She also called on her years of experience to teach and pass along the skills she had honed. Mary was a beacon of strength, resiliency, warmth, and generosity. We miss her greatly. Please enjoy this week’s broadcast dedicated to her and her family as well as her colleagues across the United States and Great Britain.

Mary Deissler Obituary

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 her siblings — Mark, Margaret, Patricia, and Christopher. 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.