Peter Max died at the age of 88. However, did you know he lost his wife, Mary Max, seven years before his death? Here's who she was and what happened to her.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GooglePeter Max died at the age of 88 at a Manhattan hospital in New York City, following which his son Adam Cosmo Max announced his death to US media outlets. While no cause of death was shared, his death has created an intense wave of grief among the pop artist's fans. Amid the outpouring of tributes, the attention has also shifted to his wife, Mary Max.
For those who don't know, Peter Max married Mary in 1997. However, their marital bliss was short-lived as she died in 2019 after getting into a lengthy legal battle with Peter's son, Adam. Amid the artist's death, the case has once again gained attention. So, let's meet his late wife, Mary Max, and what happened to her.
Mary Max was born in Buffalo, New York, on October 20, 1966. She attended a private college-preparatory school, Nardin Academy. After that, she joined Canisius College, from where she earned her bachelor's degree. However, her life took a turn when Italian-American actress-model Isabella Rossellini told Mary Max about factory farming, which encouraged her to become an animal rights advocate.
Until her death, she wrote and distributed action alert emails encouraging people to contact lawmakers about animal-friendly bills. Mary Max also hosted fundraisers at her husband's New York City studio and donated Peter Max's artwork and her personal jewelry to help raise money for animal rights.
In 2001, Mary Max even organized the debut Farm Sanctuary gala and became a member of its advisory council. She also joined the board of directors at the Humane Society of the United States in 2005 and co-founded Humane USA-PAC and Voters for Animal Rights to promote animal rights legislation. Her contribution to the animal rights world was beyond commendable.
However, that was not all. Mary Max also founded and served on the board of the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food. In 2011, she executive-produced the documentary Vegucated, which explored challenges related to converting to a vegan lifestyle. Vegucated cast member Marissa Miller Wolfson once reflected on Mary's dedication to the cause and said:
"Once, when I was feeling down about my own activism, saying it just wasn't enough to make much of a difference, she said that we each have a tiny piece to place in a big, beautiful mosaic, and everyone's contribution matters."
While Mary shone in the animal rights world, things took a turn in 2015, when Mary Max became the center of a scandal. According to reports, Adam Cosmo Max filed a lawsuit against her, accusing her of spending through his father Peter Max's money and attempting to kill him in an alleged effort to take control of his multimillion-dollar artwork. She, in turn, accused her stepson of keeping Peter from her against his will.
Mary also accused Adam Cosmo Max of stealing Peter Max's artwork worth USD 4.3 million. She claimed it "legally" belonged to her according to the prenup she signed. While the lawsuit made headlines, Peter had allegedly already become "frail" while battling dementia. Later in 2015, Mary Max asked the Supreme Court of the State of New York to appoint a guardian to manage Peter's business affairs, while also claiming private investigators were following her.
Mary Max also alleged that she was once threatened by men who stopped her on the street and warned her to stay away from her husband's studio. After a lengthy back-and-forth between Adam Cosmo Max and Mary, the court ordered the former to return Peter Max to his wife's care and appointed a guardian to oversee his personal, legal, and business matters. While many thought it was the end of it, one big shock struck the Max family almost four years later.
In 2019, The New York Times published an op-ed detailing Peter Max's family dispute over his art, wealth, and legacy. While initially there was no reaction from Mary, two weeks later, she was found dead at the apartment she co-owned with her husband on Riverside Drive near West 84th Street. Back then, it was reported that she took her own life by nitrogen asphyxiation. According to reports, before committing suicide, Mary Max had left a lengthy audio message for her husband, family, and friends.
Mary Max allegedly left an audio message for a friend in London, advising them what to do after she passed away. She also left goodbye messages for her husband Peter Max, her brother Daniel, her mother Ruth, and a few of her closest friends. Mary's lawyer, John Markham, issued a statement to the NY Times after her death and said:
"It's very sad that she could not convince some others that she was as dedicated as she was. She finally gave up."
Peter Max suffered from advanced dementia before his death. While he didn't remember parts of his life, the world remembers his journey and the tragedies it had, including the death of his wife, Mary Max. She was 29 years younger than Peter.
According to reports, Mary Max, born Mary Balkin, was an animal rights activist, philanthropist, advocate, and mentor. She was Peter's second wife, and they tied the knot in 1996, when she was 30, and Peter was 59, a year after their first meeting on a Manhattan sidewalk. Then-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani officiated their wedding. During their encounter, the artist reportedly introduced himself as:
"Hi, I'm Peter Max, and I've been painting your profile my entire life."
Before marrying Mary Max, Peter Max was married to Elizabeth Ann Nance. However, they parted ways in 1976. He also had a long relationship with model, actress, and musician Rosie Vela that ended in the mid-1980s. Peter Max also dated actress Tina Louise. He is survived by his two children, Adam Cosmo Max and Libra Astro Max.
What are your thoughts on Peter Max's wife, Mary Max? Let us know.
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