Sally Marie Cavanagh

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Sally Marie Cavanagh, of Woodacre, California, on June 24, 2023. She was surrounded by her loving family at the end of a long illness.

Sally was an original free spirit. She deeply loved all of Nature’s creatures, from plants to whales to wild cats to her precious pet cat, Little Bear. Sally was articulate, intelligent, enthusiastic, generous, imaginative, fun loving and loyal.

Sally was born in Columbus, Indiana on July 4, 1958. She was preceded in death by her father, Philippe Pierre Cavanagh, and her long-time partner, Paul Cole. Sally is survived by her mother, Martha Lee Cavanagh, her three sisters Janet, Nancy, and Sylvia as well as their husbands; Todd Binzen, Raymond Andrews and Rob Stubbs, and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

As a young child, Sally lived with her family in Portugal, Africa and Long Island before settling in London, England in 1967. At 18, she spent a year in California, and returned to attend London University, earning a degree in Biology and Psychology.

In London, Sally worked on BBC Wildlife Magazine. She was appointed spokesperson for Fox Watch, a project to count the number of foxes living in London suburbs, and was interviewed by the BBC with a fox on her lap! She also lived in the wilds of Yorkshire, in the middle of woods in an ancient house with no electricity or running water. Ever the adventurer, Sally flew to India where she travelled by train throughout the country, visiting Tiger Haven where she saw tigers in the wild. Other travels include trekking in Nepal and many visits to Crete.

Sally was always ahead of the curve, working on environmental and social justice issues in the 80s and 90s. She spent years during the 1990s as coordinator of UKCAN (UK Climate Action Network), raising sponsorships, organizing conferences, participating in the original UN COP climate conferences in Berlin, Geneva and Kyoto, and writing reports to raise awareness of this crisis. Later she worked for Sustain, highlighting the issues of food poverty and unequal access to fresh food. 

In 2003, Sally left London and settled in Fairfax, Marin County, California. She worked as a gardener and loved making beautiful spaces, working outside, surrounded by plants and flowers. She loved her new home, especially the easy access to all the wild places, the hills and trails, where she was surrounded by beauty and wildlife. She adored Point Reyes where she was happiest scanning the water for migrating whales, and her hours of patience often paid off! She loved the Fairfax community, her friends, and gathering to play and enjoy live music.

Sally will be sorely missed and will forever be an inspiration for those who knew and love her.

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