Marilyn received a bachelor of arts degree from Bryn Mawr College in 1954. She subsequently worked at DuPont Co. in Wilmington as an assistant to the chief geologist. In 1962 she was a research associate at the University of Delaware in Newark, becoming an instructor there in the late 1960s.

In the early 1970s Marilyn moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where she taught at Arizona State University in Tempe. There she received a master of science in geology in 1975 and a doctorate in geology in 1976.

In 1977 she became chief geologist at Energy Resources Development Co. in Phoenix. In the early 1980s, she worked as a geologist at Vande Linde Co. from 1980 to 1984, and then for Dewberry & Davis in Roanoke as a senior geologist. In 1992 she began working at Virginia Military Institute as an adjunct professor of geology for many years until she retired in 2007.

Marilyn was a passionate and effective crusader for environmental affairs and policies, working on numerous projects as a project scientist/ geologist and researcher over the span of a long and productive career. Projects included Superfund site remediations, landfills, coal mining company geologic analysis, expert testimonies, and recently cofounding the county recycling coalition for the Rockbridge County recycling program.

She co-authored the book "Essays on Leadership in Environmental Management" in 2004. Some of her favorite activities were her university geology field trips she led to various places in Arizona and Virginia.

Donations in Marilyn's loving memory can be made to Friends School in Wilmington, Del. N-G

She is survived by her husband, James Savage, and two nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Walter Dew and Eleanor Stratton Dew. first husband, Andrew Maisano; a brother; and two sisters.