Stephen "Steve" Clark Winter

Stephen “Steve” Clark Winter of Naples, Florida and Phoenix, Maryland, accomplished attorney, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away on April 14, 2025 following a sudden and brief battle with cancer.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Towson, Maryland, Steve was the son of Nelson Stanley Winter, an attorney and Vice President of Mercantile Bank, and Janet Clark Winter, a homemaker. A graduate of Towson High School, Steve obtained a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in Finance from Drexel University. At Drexel, Steve played lacrosse and was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

Upon graduation from Drexel, Steve followed in his father’s footsteps and attended law school at the University of Maryland, where he graduated with honors. Several years into his career, Steve met the love of his life, Colleen Patricia (affectionately called “C.P.” by Steve), during a chance meeting delivering documents to his clients (and, unbeknownst to him, soon-to-be in-laws), Dennis and Gladys Murphy. After a whirlwind three-month courtship, Steve and Colleen became engaged and enjoyed fifty-two years of marriage. It should be noted that the Murphys became Steve’s lifelong clients.

Steve spent most of his career as a principal at Miles & Stockbridge P.C. His law practice focused on commercial transactions, public finance, business and tax matters, and estates & trusts. Steve’s eclectic client base included local municipalities such as Harford County, automobile dealers, including the Maryland New Car & Truck Dealers Association trade organization, as well as small businesses and individuals such as Josef’s Country Inn in Fallston, Maryland. He fondly remembered trying unique precedent-setting cases before the Supreme Courts of the United States and Spain. Many of Steve’s clients grew to become beloved friends to him and Colleen. Inspired by his compelling career, all three of Steve’s children attended law school.

Steve also served as a Regional Director of Branch Banking & Trust Company and as Director of the Bank of Maryland. One beloved assistant to Steve, fondly recalled her time working for Steve as follows: “Mr. Winter’s dedication and friendship to his clients was admirable. I am forever grateful for the opportunities he provided, which allowed me to grow, learn, and thrive under his guidance. His kindness, mentorship and friendship were a gift I will always treasure.”

Steve enjoyed giving back to the community and served as President and Director of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where two of his children swam competitively. Steve also volunteered for Santa Claus Anonymous and served as Co-Chair with Colleen, and Dr. Ray & Lynn Plack for the Frank Deford Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser. He was actively involved in fundraising efforts for both Roland Park Country School and Gilman School, where his children attended.

While Steve was an accomplished attorney, he was most devoted to his family. He loved watching his children and grandchildren compete in sports and coached their youth teams. Steve’s children warmly recall that Steve rarely missed any of their many, many sports competitions. Steve and C.P. became the unofficial Duke University Swim Team parent cheer squad, traveling across the U.S. and to Durham, North Carolina, for over a decade to support their two children, as well as the many teammates and coaches they came to know so well. Steve treasured family vacations to Bethany Beach, Delaware, and to his second home in Naples, Florida, where he eventually retired.

In addition to his immediate family of five, Steve was dedicated to his canine family. Originally a one-dog family, over the years, Steve was convinced by his family to adopt many rescue dogs. No matter the breed, size or circumstances of each dog adoption, each and every dog that lived with Steve and Colleen came to favor Steve to any other family member-including his beloved granddog, Biscuit.

A former long-time member of Hillendale Country Club in Phoenix, Maryland and Wyndemere Country Club in Naples, Florida, Steve enjoyed playing golf with friends, family, colleagues and clients. He also regularly jogged and played squash in earlier years. Steve was an avid reader and history buff, reading books about World War II, American History, politics, and international relations.

Steve was known to friends and his family as a wise and caring friend, confidante and advisor and was often the first phone call in times of emergency given his steadfast and calm demeanor. One close family friend put into words the feelings reiterated by so many: [“…[Steve] was truly one of the kindest and most stately of gentlemen. We respected his knowledge and loved his sense of humor. He was the consummate gentleman who lived life with so much wisdom and dignity. We will miss him.”

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Colleen, his son, Patrick, of New York, New York, his daughters, Holly, of Naples, Florida and Heather (William), of Naples Florida, his grandsons, Lawson and William, his sister, Martha Devlin (Harry), his niece and his nephew, his fur babies, Cupcake and Sugar and his granddog, Biscuit.

A private funeral for the immediate family was held on Wednesday April 23, 2025, in Naples, Florida. A Memorial to celebrate Steve’s life with relatives and friends is being planned for this summer in Phoenix, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Steve be made to the Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in support of the lung cancer research of Dr. Julie Brahmer. Gifts can be made online by visiting https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Kimmel indicating “Dr. Julie Brahmer lung cancer research”. Alternatively, donations may be made to the Maryland SPCA by sending a check to: Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21211