Maria Sarath Ragucci lives in the Lower Hudson Valley with her husband, Fred Ragucci. Maria graduated from Williams College with degrees in Russian language, Biology and Environmental Studies. She lived in Kurume City, Japan, and St. Petersburg, Russia (at the time, Leningrad.) She received a J.D. from Harvard University and practiced law for 15 years on Wall Street and in commercial banking before retiring to stay at home with her family.

Maria has been in love with the outdoors and a strong advocate for the environment from a young age. Her belief in and support of Riverkeeper are based on the organization's dedication to wide-ranging initiatives that will preserve the Hudson and its environs for wildlife and human life for generations to come.