After 50 years of living in Manhattan, Maris moved to Old Lyme in 2013. Maris holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts and has worked as a national award-winning graphic designer at numerous national magazines, e.g., Condé Nast, Vogue, and Rolling Stone, as well as with Jim Henson Productions until his death in 1990. Since relocating to Connecticut, Maris has done pro bono design work for Safe Futures, CT River Museum, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, and The Community Music School. She is on the Development Committee at Safe Futures and volunteers as a sidewalker at High Hopes. Additionally, Maris is a 500-hour, nationally-accredited yoga teacher with a studio in Old Lyme. Maris has three adult children, Jordan, Sydney, and Lindsey.