Marjean Cashman Irwin, daughter of Henry Sheridan Cashman and Annie Bedford Annon Cashman, was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on August 2, 1934. She died peacefully with her family gathered on August 7, 2026, in Catonsville, Maryland, at Charlestown Senior Living Community.
Marjean moved from St. Petersburg to Catonsville when she was four years old. She attended St. Mark’s School and Trinity Preparatory School in Ilchester, Maryland. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland in 1956 and went on to work in medical research at the National Institutes of Health Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. It was there that she met Bob Irwin, who was also working at NIH. They dated, married, and went on to raise four children.
Marjean taught science at Good Shepherd Services, a residential school for girls, and was active in various community organizations. She was also active with the Catholic Community of Relay, where she was instrumental in supporting Southeast Asian refugees.
Marjean was a professional artist who painted in oils and watercolors. She studied at the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, was active in the Baltimore Watercolor Society, and particularly loved painting murals.
Marjean was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Irwin, and brother-in-law, Burke Irwin. She is survived by her four children, Katie Riback of Roland Park, Terry Peters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Peggy Lewis of Craryville, New York, and John Irwin of Catonsville; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial gathering at the Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home in Catonsville on August 21 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on August 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel on the Charlestown Senior Living Community campus with a celebration of life to follow at The Chapel in Catonsville.
In lieu of flowers, donations to SWES–South West Emergency Services of Arbutus, Maryland, in Marjean’s name would be greatly appreciated.
