Meet Stephen Mahoney

Stephen Mahoney grew up in a small industrial town in northern England, near the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, before his career and life journey eventually brought him to the United States. He and his wife, Margaret, settled in Stuart three years ago after moving from Miami to be closer to their daughter and two grandchildren in Palm City.

A retired biology professor with more than 40 years of teaching experience—including posts in Britain, Turkey, Greece, and the U.S.—Stephen spent the last two decades of his career teaching Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami. When he first visited Florida Oceanographic with his family, he immediately recognized the alignment between his background and the organization’s mission. Looking for meaningful ways to stay engaged after retirement, he joined as a volunteer in 2021.

Since then, Stephen has contributed over 420 hours of service. His roles include maintaining the seagrass nursery, building seagrass mats, and serving as an Exhibit Guide in both the Ocean EcoCenter and Invertebrate Touch Tank. He especially enjoys sparking curiosity among visitors and sharing the fascinating traits of the marine creatures on display.

Outside of Florida Oceanographic, Stephen keeps busy cycling, playing guitar, and traveling with Margaret in their camper van to visit friends and family across the country. Margaret, a retired art teacher, is now active as a Master Gardener in the community. Their son lives in Washington, D.C., but family gatherings are never too far away.

In addition to his work at Florida Oceanographic, Stephen also volunteers with the Sierra Club, serving on the Marine Team and the Climate Adaptation and Restoration Team. His lifelong dedication to education and conservation continues to make a meaningful impact both locally and beyond.

SNAP SHOT

BORN: Shipley, Yorkshire, England

COLLEGE: University of Hertfordshire, UK, West Midlands College of Education, UK, and University of Southern Oregon, Oregon, USA

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT: Bolly Twist, Indian food

RECENT BOOK: The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

FAVORITE AUTHORS: John Le Carre and Iain Banks

ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Outlander the series and espionage movies including The Imitation Game