Stephen Denison Harding

Stephen Denison Harding, of West University and Galveston, passed from life on Friday, the 17th of October 2025, at Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston. He was born in New London, Connecticut, to Claude Douglas Harding and Mary Patricia Denison Harding, both parents of long-established New England heritage.

Steve’s father, as a military officer, provided the family with the unique opportunity to live in many locations, including, but not limited to, Fort Huachuca, Arizona and Orléans, France. Steve often reminisced about attending a one room schoolhouse and having his own horse in Arizona to tales of adventure, as a twelve-year-old, with his dog Garçon in France. High school brought Steve back to New England where he attended Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts.

Following graduation from Tabor, it was back out west for matriculation at Brigham Young University. While at BYU, with the war in Vietnam at the forefront of the news, Steve enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Southeast Asia.

After serving three years in the USMC, Steve resumed his education at Philadelphia College of Art. With a major in graphic arts, he found his true passion in graphic design. His other passion was classmate Jennifer Wik, who he married on the 21st of December 1971. Graduate work took both Steve and Jen to Switzerland for two years of study at the Basel School of Design.

Steve’s professional career started with Lance Wyman in New York, New York, followed by four years at the Westinghouse Design Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A longtime dream to live in Texas was realized with a position as vice president at 3D/International in Houston. In 1992, Steve started Harding Design, which soon became Steve Harding Design, Inc., a museum design firm. A lifetime portfolio of design work can be viewed at stevehardingdesign.com

Retirement afforded ten years at Pirates Beach and Pirates Cove on Galveston Island. Island life presented opportunities for sailing, relaxing, enjoying friends, and continuing as a design consultant.

Steve was much loved by his family and friends. He was a wonderful father to twins, Stephanie Harding Bryant and her husband Michael, and Weston Harding and his wife Lauren; doting grandfather to Sawyer Harding, Emma Bryant, and Wyatt Harding; and a terrific husband to wife Jennifer.

A graveside service is to be conducted at half-past two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 8th of November at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue in Houston.

Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a celebration of life reception to be held at The Center for Glenwood located on the cemetery grounds.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon below.