Marilyn Steiner, a passionate entomologist, devoted gardener, and one of my dearest friends, passed away peacefully on 24 October 2025, surrounded by love, showing the same courage in passing that marked her life.
Born in England, Marilyn studied Applied Biology at the University of Bath, specialising in crop protection. Her career took her to Canada and later Australia, where she met and married fellow entomologist Dr Stephen Goodwin. Together, they made lasting contributions to sustainable horticulture, developing natural enemies for pest control now used worldwide.
Marilyn and Stephen lived at Mangrove Mountain, where they developed a garden akin to an extensive botanical garden and advocated for environmental causes, including campaigns against coal seam gas exploration and landfill expansion. When Stephen’s health declined, they moved to the Southern Highlands. After Stephen’s passing, Marilyn continued to lovingly reshape their garden and proudly opened it this year as part of the local garden club — a personal triumph.
Marilyn was one of my closest and most loyal friends, always in my corner; attending nearly all of my concerts. In my peach-farming days, Marilyn (and Stephen) not only helped in the orchard but transformed the harvest into cakes and peach schnapps. My children always considered her part of our family. Her dogs and cats, (and the birds that she fed) were constant companions.
Marilyn passed away courageously, peacefully at home, overlooking her beloved garden, with me, her stepdaughter Alison, and Patsy (End of Life Angels) by her side. She will be deeply missed for her intelligence, humour, kindness, and unwavering generosity.
She leaves behind her three siblings, especially David and wife Mary with whom she was incredibly close; step-children Alison and Nicholas and step-grandchildren Isabelle, Finn, Lachlan, Tye and Charlotte; and the many friends she has taken with her through life.
Michelle Pritchard
