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Stephen Edward Steinfeldt, born at a very young age on April 6, 1945, died Nov. 29, 2021, after a long illness. He was 76.

Steve grew up in Cortland, New York, with his parents, Dr. Edward and Eudene Steinfeldt, and younger sisters, Susan and Kathryn. They were joined by many beloved animals as pets, on the farm, and at Dr. Steinfeldt’s veterinary hospital. Steve graduated from Cornell University in 1967, served as a U.S. Navy officer in Vietnam, and had a long and successful professional career in the fledgling computer industry.

In 1971, Steve married Eileen, his wife of 50 years. Together they raised two sons, Tom and Jeff, in Chester.

Most important, Steve was a beloved husband, dad, grandpa, brother, friend, and role model. He worked incredibly hard, led by example, and provided great opportunities for his family. He enjoyed golf, occasionally even playing well, cheered for the New York Yankees and Giants, and savored great food. (He also detested poor service and bad manners.) To no surprise, dinnertime was an institution in the Steinfeldt household, and dinner parties with longtime family friends created many cherished memories.

Steve married a great cook, a better wife, and a perfect mom. After meeting at a Navy Officers’ Club bar in San Diego, Steve and Eileen eventually settled in Chester, where they had a home for nearly 40 years. Atop Steinfeldt Hill, Steve and Eileen raised their family. There, Steve taught Tom how to run a buttonhook, field a short hop, and swing a golf club. He fostered Jeff’s curiosities with tools to innovate and room to explore. He was the voice of Braveheart Lion, wielded a fierce napkin around ill-mannered children (those he liked), and cared deeply about his family’s well-being.

The son of a veterinarian, Steve displayed a natural kinship with animals, and pets were a mainstay in his life. From their first cat, Pooker, Steve and Eileen invited several pets into their home, some exotic, thanks to Jeff, and others long-living companions in Augie Doggie and Maxwell Smart. Steve made sure that both dog and cats lived charmed lives.

Steve is survived by his wife, Eileen; sons Tom and his wife Esther Turner and Jeff and his wife Meredith Steinfeldt; and five grandchildren, Naomi Forslund, Patricia Steinfeldt, Abel Steinfeldt, Drew Steinfeldt, and Rodney Steinfeldt. He is also survived by his sister Susan Beaudry and her son Eddie, sister Kathryn Schatz and her husband Jim and daughters Morgan and Abby, and Eileen’s siblings Barb Vincent and her husband Vince, Doug Mason and his wife Trish, and Terri Mason and her daughter Tara Hurley.

The family and their friends will honor Steve at a private ceremony later in 2022.