Maria Tyler, a former Foggy Bottom Advisory Neighborhood commissioner and community activist, died last week of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Tyler – an immigrant born in Kaunas, Lithuania – served on the Foggy Bottom’s ANC, a local group that makes zoning recommendations, for 20 years before choosing not to run for re-election in 2004.

“She survived Nazi Germany and Stalin’s reign in Lithuania,” said longtime friend and fellow FBA member Ron Cocome, who added that Tyler was about 78. Cocome said she spoke Lithuanian, Russian, German, English and French.

Tyler, a former World Bank employee, is survived by her husband, Geoffery Tyler.

Dorothy Miller, a current ANC commissioner who worked with Tyler on the board, said Tyler was instrumental in preserving Foggy Bottom’s historic character.

“Her pride and joy was protecting that precious historic district,” Miller said.

Tyler’s funeral will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist at 4001 17th St., N.W.

-Kaitlyn Jahrling