Mary Ursula Brandes

On February 26th, 2021, Mary Ursula Brandes, artist, gifted educator, and enthusiastic large dog owner, passed away peacefully at the age of 96. A natural and dedicated teacher, Mary’s greatest satisfaction came from helping children and adults with learning disabilities, a passion she pursued throughout her long, rich, and varied life.

Born in London in 1924 to Bernard and Dorit Barratt, Mary remained a lifelong British subject, proudly referring to her status as a “registered alien” during her many years as a Baltimore resident. Raised in the small village of Corscombe and in London with her brother John, she attended the Cheltenham Ladies College. Upon graduating from the University of Reading with a Master of Art Education, she initially worked in fashion design before finding her path in teaching.

In 1954, she married Dr. David Brandes, a British Council Scholar at the Royal Cancer Hospital in London. After the birth of their son Martin, she accompanied David to his native Buenos Aires, working as a teacher in a small boys’ school. The family moved to the United States when David took a position at Emory University in Atlanta, where their eldest daughter Jane was born. Relocating to Baltimore when David joined the faculty at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, they welcomed their younger daughter, Helena, shortly thereafter. David and Mary remained in Baltimore for the duration of their lives.

In the 1960s, Mary volunteered at the remedial reading program at Brown Memorial Church in Bolton Hill and worked at the St. Pius school in Towson. After several years of teaching at the Bluebird School in Ruxton, she became their head of school from 1972 to 1976. Her two giant Newfoundland dogs, Che and Changa, as well as their numerous puppies, were regulars there, providing gentle chaperoning on the playground and cheerfully greeting children and their parents on the flagstone terrace.

After Bluebird, Mary turned her teaching skills toward the adult community, finding great satisfaction in helping adults achieve certification needed for employment. At the Department of Social Services, she assisted people in applying for benefits. For many years she taught adult literacy at the Baltimore City Community College where she received an award in 2002 for development of the pre-GED/GED program. An avid walker, Mary chose not to own a car. Well into her seventies, she could be found in all weather, patiently waiting for the bus to take her to her students, and after retiring, she continued to tutor children and adults in reading and math from home.

Always inquisitive, blessed with a keen and wide-ranging intellect, Mary was fascinated by astronomy and astrology. She developed and copyrighted a graphical representation of the progress of planets, condensing hundreds of pages of a regular ephemeris book into a simple one-page graph, making it easier to construct and interpret astrological charts.

She was an enthusiastic member of the Theosophical Society, which explores world religions, philosophies and spiritual interests, and served in many board positions including President of the Baltimore Lodge. A life-long gardener, she never missed the annual tulip display at Sherwood Gardens, yet found equal appreciation for the small bed of hydrangeas and roses outside her door. A devotee of British cuisine, her flaming Christmas pudding, topped with hard sauce and a sprig of holly, was a holiday treat her entire family looked forward to.

As a gifted artist with a particular talent for illustration, she worked primarily in pencil, ink and watercolor, and art remained a source of deep pleasure for her. Throughout her career, she used her artistic talent to supplement her teaching, to enhance the Theosophical Society’s frequent newsletters, and to create innumerable drawings and cards for family and friends. She never tired of her favorite Baltimore museum, the Walters Art Gallery, often taking her grandchildren there to see the armor and the magnificent Chamber of Wonders.

Mary is survived by her son, Dr. Martin Brandes; two daughters, Jane Brandes and Helena Brandes; a son-in-law, Dr. Frank Huyler; her grandson, Derek Gugel; granddaughter, Katherine Brochin; a grandson, Colin Huyler; as well as two great grandchildren, Bryce and Zane Gugel. Mary will always be remembered by friends and family as an engaged, deeply curious, vibrant and strong-minded person who had the courage to follow her own unusual path in life with both confidence and conviction. She made herself available to listen closely, to offer sage advice, combining the rare ability to be both compassionate and yet unswervingly British in her wit. Her presence will be dearly missed. The Brandes family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to friends for their sympathy and support and welcome any memories and photos people would like to share! A memorial service will be scheduled when conditions allow. Donations can be made to the Sherwood Gardens at https://www.sherwoodgardens.org/donate/