Dr. Katherine (Katja) Georgieff (neé Peikarian), born July 27, 1926, died after a brief illness at age 94 on March 23, 2021. Beloved mother of Michael (m. Dawn) and Nicholas (m. Diane) Georgieff, grandmother of Lisa, Paul (m. Natalie), Lara (m. Christopher), and Alex Georgieff and great-grandmother of Parker and Hazel Georgieff. Preceded in death by her parents Ivan and Maria Peikarian, her husband Stephen Georgieff, and her granddaughter Lisa Georgieff. Katja was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (Serbia) to emigres from Imperial Russia, and was raised in Vinkovci, Yugoslavia (Croatia). She trained as a professional pianist at the University of Vienna and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Following World War II, she moved to St. Louis with her parents and husband and completed her PhD in Musicology at Washington University in St. Louis. She taught at the St. Louis Institute of Music and was on the faculty at Maryville University from 1975–2005, where she was Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Department, and started the Music at Maryville professional concert series in 1980. She remained connected to the series well past her retirement from Maryville and was involved in the classical music scene in St. Louis until her death. In 2004, she was honored by the St. Andrews Charitable Foundation as an Ageless Remarkable Saint Louisan. Katja involved art in every facet of her life: from the music she played professionally and listened to knowledgably and joyfully; to the paintings on her walls from her artist friends; to her colorful and elegant wardrobe; to the books (in various languages) she read. An avid traveler, she took pleasure in returning to Europe annually, often with family and friends. She was a trusted confidant for many people and her love of travel, art, and music will continue to inspire all those who knew her.
We will have a private burial service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Music at Maryville, Maryville University by following these steps: Navigate to https://crowdfunding.maryville.edu/give/137800/#!/donation/checkout. Choose “Other/Multiple Funds.”enter The Music at Maryville series (https://www.maryville.edu/about/music-at-maryville/).
Arrangements under the direction of Michel Funeral Home
I’m very sorry to hear this news and our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. I was a friend of Nick, or as I knew him, Nicky, in high school, and was always amazed at his mom’s elegance, grace, and sophistication. I enjoyed more than one of her specially prepared crepes for breakfast on Topping Ln, a treat unique to the Georgieff home for me. Nick’s and my paths have strayed over the years but those days will always be fond memories for me. I hope NIck and the rest of the Georgieff clan are doing well and would enjoy catching up on years past if you’re inclined to do so.
-Joe Klevorn
508 Beech Ln
New Lenox, IL 60451
815 955 6600
I am also sorry to hear this news. The only thing I would add was the level of Mrs. Geogieff’s piano playing. She played the entire theme to The Sting flawlessly the first time she opened the sheet music.
Such a graceful woman and welcoming to Nick’s friends. My path also has diverged from Nicky’s ( and Joe’s) I offer my sympathies to the family also.