Beloved husband of Deborah Korenblat; dear father and father-in-law of Rachel Korenblat and Joshua Korenblat (Sweta Pendyala); dear brother of Dr. Phillip Korenblat (Arleen) and Robert Korenblat (Alice); grandfather of the joy of his life, granddaughter Emma Korenblat; beloved uncle of Missy Hanin (Yoram), Bonnie Donato, Dr. Kevin Korenblat (Lisa) and Michael Korenblat (Talia Ballinger); also survived by great-nephews and great-nieces.
Steve was sweet in nature, soft spoken, generous and selfless. To his children, Steve was a calm and open-minded role model they could always turn to in challenging times. To his wife, Steve was a constant, good-natured companion in life's journey. For people who knew Steve well, and even acquaintances, it was clear that he was a kind person. He didn't need to try to do what was fair and just; those qualities were just part of him.
When Steve moved to St. Louis from Little Rock, Arkansas to attend Washington University in St. Louis, he met the love of his life, Debbie Korenblat. They met when they were just twenty years old and married at twenty-two. They had a devoted and happy marriage for forty-eight years. At the University of Chicago, he earned a PhD in Modern European Intellectual History. He would then serve as Assistant Dean at Washington University School of Law for nine years.
After earning his law degree, Steve eventually became a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he worked for several decades and practiced real estate law. He enjoyed bringing people together into agreement, helping them to find common ground. He was well respected by his work colleagues.
While he was a lawyer, Steve kept his academic dreams alive by publishing an article in Cambridge University Press and giving a lecture at the Sorbonne. On top of his “hobby” of academic writing, Steve loved chess, reading, art, and traveling. Every year, he made sure to take a family vacation to expose his children to various places throughout this country even though money was often tight. As his kids grew older, Steve traveled with Debbie and children to Europe and Belize, and then he took cruises with Debbie to Alaska and navigated markets in Istanbul and Jerusalem.
Steve though put his travel plans on hold once his granddaughter, Emma, was born in 2016—choosing instead to spend as much time as he could with her and Rachel in Las Vegas. Emma, who looks just like her Zeda, lit up Steve’s world. Seeing Emma thrive and his son marry Sweta, he had such joy that his children found their life paths.
We will always love Steve: son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him, and we will remember him with fondness and try to live our lives to honor him.
Visitation on Wednesday, May 15, at 1:00 p.m., at Congregation Shaare Emeth; funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Interment at Chesed Shel Emeth, 7500 Olive Blvd. On behalf of Steve, please make donations to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation and Barnes Jewish Hospital Siteman Cancer Center, or to a charity of a donor's choice. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE
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