Maria Hanau-Schaumburg

Maria Madeleine Princess von Hanau Countess von Schaumburg, née de Kossaczky passed away April 18, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas after a long illness. She was born in Budapest, Hungary December 9, 1924, the only child of General Arpad de Kossaczky and Ilona de Kossaczky.

Maria and her parents fled to Austria before the 1945 Soviet occupation of Hungary. At the University of Innsbruck, Maria completed her university degree in art history. Subsequently, in 1949, Maria received a scholarship at the University of Texas in Austin and lived in the Pi Phi sorority house. She graduated with an M.A. degree in foreign languages. Maria had a long career teaching languages: German at the University of Texas, French at Texas A&M University, where she was the only full-time female faculty member, and at Trinity University, San Antonio.

Maria met her future husband, Prince Friedrich von Hanau, Count von Schaumburg, in San Antonio shortly after starting her university teaching career. Fortuitously, Maria’s father and Friedrich’s grandfather were already acquainted, having served in the same WWI cavalry regiment as commander and first adjutant. Maria and Friedrich married June 5, 1954 and on June 5, 1956 they welcomed their only child, Christoph Friedrich Wilhelm. In addition to San Antonio, the family resided in: Klagenfurt, Austria; Nassau, Bahamas; Winnetka, Illinois and, for 20 years in Greenwich, Connecticut. Upon retirement in 1992, Maria and Friedrich returned to San Antonio and their long treasured Texas friendships. Maria is survived by son Christoph, Prince von Hanau, Count von Schaumburg, wife née Candace McDonnell and grandchildren Victoria and Maximilian.

In San Antonio, Maria had been a member of The Argyle, Our Reading Club, Timely Topics and The Forum. Always athletic, Maria was an avid tennis player. Additionally, to the pleasure of her friends, she enjoyed entertaining both large and small groups at home, The Argyle and the Round Hill Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Finally, Maria was an avid fan of the Spurs basketball team!

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Haven for Hope (www.havenforhope.org).