Maria E. Olmeda

María Esther Olmeda of Brentwood, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, professor, writer, mentor, and friend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 at the age of 79.

Born on March 11, 1947 in Bronx, New York, “Maru” devoted her life to learning, teaching, and the written word. An accomplished poet, she earned her bachelor’s and masters degrees from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and spent much of her career as a professor of English and later director of the English department at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, where she inspired generations of students with her intellect, compassion and unwavering belief in the power of education.

Beyond the classroom, Maria was blessed with a life-saving liver transplant during the early era of transplantation under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Starzl at UPMC Presbyterian in 1989. These more than 38 years of life allowed her to carry on her work, not only as an educator, but as an accomplished poet whose work reflected her experiences as a Puerto Rican woman, relationships and the generational legacy of women. 

To her family, she was far more than her accomplishments. She was a devoted mother who offered wisdom, humor, and unconditional love. But she found another level of joy in her grandchildren with whom she loved sharing stories, music and her love of cooking

She is survived by her partner Henry Cobb, her children Christopher, Alexander, Christian and Mariana, grandchildren Alexander, Augustine and Natalia, her siblings Julie, Tony, Josie, Xander, Joy, Tina and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Ernest, mother Esther, brother Augustine and sister Kiffa.

In lieu of flowers, the Olmeda family requests that donations be made to the Casa San José in her memory. Memorial plans are private. 

Her legacy lives on in the countless students she taught, the readers she moved and the family and friends who were fortunate enough to know and love her.