Marianna L. Graham

Marianna, or Alexandra as she was known to her friends, was born on July 6, 1918 in Russia to Joseph and Rosina Lhevinne. Her parents were Gold Medal graduates of the Moscow conservatory.

The family moved to Kew Gardens in Queens, New York after Marianna was born. Joseph and Rosina were the first pianists to join the faculty of the Julliard School of music in 1924. Rosina was renowned for her teaching of Van Cliburn, John Brewing and Garrick Ohlsson. Rosina was one of the initial instructors at the Aspen School of Music and at University of Colorado. Alexandra was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Constantine.

Marianna attended the Baldwin School and as a teenager she accompanied her parents to master classes in Austria, Maine, and Colorado. Following prep school, Marianna attended Grinnell College and graduated with a liberal arts degree.

Following her graduation she moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a translator for Warner Brothers. Alexandra’s next career, social work, spanned over thirty years as she worked with foster children in foster care and adoption and for which received numerous awards.

Alexandra continued her passion for helping others after retirement by dedicating many hours as a volunteer with the San Juan Learning Center, the University of Colorado foreign student program, Boulder Valley Schools, and through Volunteer Connection.

Alexandra was an advocate for those without a voice and gave generously to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Children International, and to impoverished children in third world countries.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, 2323 55th St., Boulder Colorado. Please share thoughts, memories, and condolences at www.cristmortuary.com