As a kid growing up in Arlington Heights, Steve loved playing baseball, soccer, "bounce or cry”, especially with his little sister, Julie! He also played the saxophone in both the middle school and high school band. He even loved besting his opponents when playing video games such as Intellivision.
Steve gifted us all with his unbridled loyalty - to his job, to his movies and music, to his favorite local watering holes, but mostly to his family and friends. Steve attended Patton Elementary School, Thomas Middle School and John Hersey High School where he played multiple sports and was the only baritone saxophone in the band. He also developed a group of lifelong friends and a love of music there.
After high school, Steve thrived at University of Illinois Chicago where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering. During his time at UIC, Steve fell in love with the city of Chicago.
As a Chemical Engineer with Savis, Steve consulted on a multitude of projects that took him to Rhode Island, Colorado, Kankakee and Pleasant Prairie, WI, until the magnet of Chicago drew him back home permanently.
Steve loved all things Chicago sports, except the Cubs! He had just purchased his first home, a beautiful condo in downtown Chicago with an amazing view of Lake Michigan. Multiple times a week, he would join a group of friends to play trivia. He loved going to concerts with his friends and looked forward to his yearly tradition of seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concerts every Christmas season.
Steve is survived by his parents, John and Eileen Brown; siblings, Bob (Erin) Brown and Julie (Michael) Vick; nephews and niece, Brogan and Ellery Brown and Ryan Vick.
He is welcomed to his eternal life by his paternal grandparents, Robert and Loretta (Dombrowski) Brown and his maternal grandparents Aloysius and Henrietta (Mangold) VandeSand along with a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Family will be receiving guests on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL, 60004. An additional visitation will take place on Monday, March 31, 2025 from 9:00 AM until Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church, 831 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Interment to follow at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, 1185 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067.
Any memorial donations under Steve's name may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023 Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Please see links below for links to donate virtually.