Mary G. Estep

ESTEP, Mary G., passed away on October 14, 2010 after a nine-year struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood's plasma cells. On March 31, 1957, she was born Mary Jean Grieneisen in Wilkinsburg, Pa. (near Pittsburgh). She graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic High School in 1975 and earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979. She joined the DuPont company that same year and enjoyed assignments at the company's Belle site near Charleston, W.Va., Washington Works site in Parkersburg, W.Va., Marshall Labs in Philadelphia, and the Spruance site in Richmond, Va. Her career highlight was being part of a technical team in the mid-80s that helped build and start a CORIAN plant in Japan. This was at a time when Japanese men were not sure how to deal with an American woman in a technical role but Mary-san quickly drove away their discomfort and it was a great startup. She left DuPont in 1993 to become a full-time Mom. She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Tom Estep, and their two children, Todd Estep and Michelle Estep; her brother, Paul Grieneisen, who lives near Pittsburgh; and sister, Judy Hallgren, who resides in North Canton, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Charlotte Grieneisen, and her older brother, Joey Grieneisen. The family would like to thank the nurses at the Thomas Johns Cancer Center and the Chesterfield DaVita Dialysis Center for their care this past summer. Thanks also to Hospice of Virginia for care during her final days. Special thanks to Dr. Harriet Schanzer for early detection of the disease and Dr. Pablo Gonzalez and the staff at the Virginia Cancer Institute for their treatment, support and counsel through nine very tough years. The family's deepest gratitude goes to Ernie and Paula Moore for their steadfast kindness, support and friendship during this difficult time. There will be no formal service, just a simple burial at Dale Memorial Cemetery attended by immediate family.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.