Maria Concetta Luna Baker Kersh

Maria Luna Baker Kersh, beloved wife of John M. Kersh and longtime Annapolis resident and owner of “The Pewter Chalice”, passed away on March 23, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 82. Maria was born in Carini, Sicily in 1941 to Giovanni and Gaetana Luna and moved to New York City in 1958. She studied English and Music at Hunter College. Maria worked for Alitalia Airlines where she also served as an interpreter for movie producer Dino DeLaurentiis. She then worked for Newsweek as an assistant editor. While in New York, she met her first husband Edward Baker. They were married in 1966 and had two children, Melissa and Jason. They remained married until his death in 1979.

Maria moved to New Jersey and worked as the first female representative for Healthtex Clothing. Eventually, she opened her own children’s clothing store, “Mias Mods” and later “The Children’s Emporium”.

Shortly after moving to Annapolis in 1982, she opened “The Pewter Chalice of Annapolis”. Maria was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Annapolis and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Annapolis Symphony.

On July 7th, 2018, Maria married Rear Admiral John McKay (Jack) Kersh. Together they shared a love of traveling, food, family, sports, music, volunteering and laughter. Maria was a gifted entrepreneur and fluent in English, Italian, Spanish and French. She will be remembered by her family for her imagination sense of humor, wit, bravery and for her capacity to love and live her life fully.

She is survived by her husband, Rear Admiral John Kersh, her daughter, Melissa and husband, Mark Sanfacon of Fairfax, VA and son, Jason and wife, Dawn Baker of Charlotte, NC and grandchildren Elliott, Samuel, Charles, Andrew and Jordan.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 4th from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home on Duke of Gloucester Street in Annapolis.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 5th at 10:30 am at St. John Neumann Church in Annapolis.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation.