My wife, Mary, and I met Mac in the early 1990s while we lived in Delaware.  We were introduced to Mac by a friend from graduate  school in Minnesota who worked with Mac at the Naval Research Labs, who also introduced us to Mac's boyhood friend, Bob Mathers, who all lived in Baltimore/D.C. area.  We have many fond memories of Mac and our "Baltimore/D.C. gang" for visits to numerous brew pubs, restaurants and occasionally, golf courses.  Mac was a very funny, intelligent and caring person that enjoyed life and being with friends.  Mary and I moved back to Minnesota in late 2000 and our interactions with our "Baltimore/D.C. gang" were unfortunately reduced to exchanges via Facebook and Christmas cards.  We were very saddened to hear that Mac had died, all too soon.  We will miss Mac's smile, his crazy laugh and his engaging personality for the rest of our lives.  He will be fondly missed!

For those who might like another picture, here's one of Steve and Paul Armistead enjoying bottles of Pocari Sweat somewhere in Kobe, Japan.   It wouldn't surprise me if one of Steve's objectives before leaving this particular meeting was to drink this stuff...

As with others who have already shared their memories, I met Steve through his leadership (with Linda Chrisey and Paul Armistead) of the ONR Biofouling program.  The research and development he funded through this program has left an indelible mark on the biofouling field, just as he has left an indelible mark on us, his colleagues.  Besides his insights as to the science, and his extensive knowledge of the best places to eat almost anywhere, he also had a great sense of humor, particularly (in my experience at least) for the weird stuff you occasionally find when you are on the road.  I hope you all enjoy the attached photo...I know Steve was enjoying this moment (for those who don't know, Fargo was apparently one of Steve's favorite movies, we came across the wood chipper from the movie while attending a review in Fargo).

I met Steve when he and Linda Chrisey took over as Program Managers for the ONR Biofouling Program.  New life was breathed into this invaluable program.  For those who work in this technical area, you can attest to the benefit of the research he sponsored.  It is notable, and spans numerous of the interdependent disciplines and addressed many of the technical/capability gaps associated with biofouling control - larval biology, behavior and response, biofilms and microbial biofouling, adhesion, lab and field testing, methods development, materials, coatings, elastomers, surface interactions and interfaces, hydrodynamics, sensors, environmental compliance, underwater ship maintenance, and more.   As a steward of biofouling control for the US Navy, I recently worked with ONR and my colleagues at NSWCCD to characterize and quantify the Biofouling Program's benefits to the Navy.  After completing that exercise, I never had a chance to share our summary with Steve.  I think he would have enjoyed it.  The measurable impact of Steve's Biofouling program has been and remains remarkable - from the tremendous increase both academic and applied knowledge through to true technology transition and the associated benefits to the US Navy Fleet.  May you rest in peace, Steve.

Steve came to the ONR program in the same year as I, he as a program office and I as a newly funded researcher.  As noted by many others here, what Steve brought to me as a PI was a very close recognition of what we were doing that was unique to the biofouling program. Through all these years of program reviews, site visits and other activities, Steve helped make research a pleasure. I am startled by our sudden loss and send my condolences to Paul and Linda who were able to call Steve McElvany a good friend after so many years in the same office.

I met Steve about 20 years ago.  He had just taken over as a Program Officer for the Biofouling program at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and I had just started a tenure-track faculty position at the United States Naval Academy.  I pitched him a research proposal to investigate the drag penalties associated with hull fouling, and he had the courage to fund me even though I was far from an established academic.  Over the next 20 years, Steve built an incredibly strong program with a diverse group of highly intelligent and talented researchers.  It was a great pleasure for me to be able to work with this group.  To a large degree, it was Steve’s enthusiasm, encouragement, and vision that made it work so well.  I have now been part of numerous programs from many funding agencies, but I can say unequivocally that Steve’s ONR program was by far the most collaborative that I have ever been involved with.  We are all very saddened about losing Steve.  It happened far too soon.  Rest in peace my friend! 

Steve took a bold step to support our highly risky project in 2003 and was extremely supportive of our work. His efforts have paid off. Zwitterionic technology has been widely used today for not only marine applications, but also well beyond, directly resulting from the ONR marine biofouling program under his leadership. Steve had a great vision of the marine biofouling program and provided brilliant insight into scientific problems. I have many fond memories of him at project review meetings, when I visited him in Washington, D.C., and when he organized the 16th Marine Corrosion and Fouling Conference in Seattle in 2012. I am grateful for his long-term support, encouragement and guidance. Thank you, Steve – we will miss you dearly. 

I knew Steve for several decades in connection with grants he  monitored at North Dakota State University. He was a dedicated patriot and public servant in addition to being a first rate scientist. It was an honor to know him.

Steve set the tone for our program and enabled exciting and fun collaboration.  I looked forward to the meetings.  We were all treated with dignity, humor and respect for our efforts. We are saddened by his passing.

It is with great sorrow, joy, and meaning that I share my memory of Steve. I met Steve 20 years ago when I was a brand-new assistant professor in North Carolina. Steve and Linda made an investment in my research program and their faith in my ability to contribute changed the course of my career and my life.  It is not just the science that Steve supported that was so impactful to me, but it was the community that he developed and created. In addition to my many professional collaborations with folks in the ONR program, it is the friendships that I developed that I will carry and cherish.  Steve created generations of personal and professional connections between our research groups.  I am forever grateful and indebted to him and to the community he fostered among us. My condolences to his family and friends. He is a rare and special person.

I met Steve @ 2000 at ONR, where we co-managed a research program on marine biofouling control.  He possessed a deep scientific understanding of this topic, and over many years his program contributed substantially to our understanding of the problem (both from a financial and operational standpoint) and developing solutions. Besides his impressive technical knowledge, he brought a terrific sense of humor, love of fine food and beverages and geniality  to ONR.  I greatly enjoyed our program reviews which fostered amongst the scientific performers, sponsors and technical stakeholders a true collaborative spirit and sense of purpose. A hallmark of these reviews was the further cementing of collaborations and friendships through evening social gatherings.  Many of these relationships have translated to new scientific work, but perhaps more importantly, enduring personal friendships.  He will be missed....

I first met Steve about 20 years ago when he became program manager for the ONR Environmental Quality Program.   He was extremely supportive, had great insight, kept us honest and most importantly was a great colleague and friend.  All of us at Florida Tech have so much to thank him for, and many great memories of his sharp intellect, sense of humor and drive for quality at  both work and play.  I feel extremely fortunate to have enjoyed his company.  We all miss him.  Geoff
Steve at Work - Port Canaveral Hull Cleaning Tests August 2009


OBITUARY

Stephen Ward McElvany

13 November, 1958 – 8 April, 2020

Murphy Funeral Homes

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