Stephen Douglas Todd

Stephen Douglas Todd of Tempe passed away peacefully in his Tempe home on January 20, 2026. He was 75 years old. Steve is survived by his wife of 52 years, Melissa; his sons, DJ (Jen) of Dana Point, CA, and Kevin (Lindsay) of Pearce, AZ; and his only grandchild, Harlynn, whose arrival in July greatly lifted his spirits. He is also survived by three siblings: Michael Todd of Newport Beach, Christy Kerr of Buckeye, and Shelley Todd of Tempe.

Steve was truly the son of an Arizona pioneer family. Three of his grandparents were born in Arizona in the 1890s. His parents, Doug and Monie Todd, raised Steve and his four brothers and sisters in south Tempe on the family farm that had been hewn from the desert by Steve’s great-grandfather. They grew cotton, alfalfa, barley, wheat, and sorghum crops, along with registered Hereford cattle. His grandfather served as president of the Salt River Project for 17 years, and his father spent 14 years in the Arizona State Legislature and 12 more years as Maricopa County Treasurer.

Steve began raising calves when he was nine years old. He was active in 4-H and FFA, and after graduating from Tempe High School, he enrolled in the College of Agriculture at the University of Arizona. While there, Steve was selected to the University of Arizona Collegiate Livestock Judging Team and traveled to major competitions around the country. He won the College of Agriculture livestock judging contest in his junior year. A leader on campus, Steve was selected to the Traditions Committee and was a member of Bobcats, the senior men’s honorary. In 1972, he earned his degree in agriculture with distinction.

Steve planned to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Arizona, but the Vietnam War was still raging, and he was drafted within three weeks of graduation. He opted to enlist in the Navy and reported to Aviation Officers School in Pensacola, Florida, intending to be a pilot. However, by mid-February of 1973, he was back in Arizona after the draft ended and he was released, like many others in the military aviation pipeline.

In 1973, he married Melissa Bramsen, his college sweetheart, and had to rethink his future when the family farm was sold to developers. Faced with building a new life with a new wife, a degree in animal science, and little else, Steve entered the banking business. He began with Valley National Bank, where he held progressively responsible positions in commercial and agricultural lending. He later served as regional vice president for United Bank, followed by various roles at Citibank, eventually becoming president of First National Bank of Arizona. He then served as senior vice president for Silicon Valley Bank before joining Capitol Bancorp, where he was named Chief of the Bank Financial Group. Acting as a virtual CFO, Steve helped manage all of Capitol Bancorp’s 64 banks. For the past 12 years, he enjoyed applying his broad knowledge of finance and agriculture as special advisor to Knorr Farms of Maricopa.

Throughout his banking career, Steve benefited from outstanding mentors and learned the importance of community engagement and giving back. He served as president of East Valley Hospice, which eventually merged with the nonprofit Hospice of the Valley.

He also served as vice president and trustee of the Otto and Edna Neely Foundation, helping meet community needs at the most basic levels, including food, shelter, family care and safety, child advocacy, and youth development.

Steve’s support of the Phoenix Art Museum through the Men’s Art Council led to a volunteer role as business manager for the legendary Cowboy Artists of America. He formed close friendships with the members and relished participating in their renowned trail rides. In recognition of his service, Steve was named an Honorary Member of the Cowboy Artists of America, an honor he shared with luminaries such as Barry Goldwater, Eddie Basha, John Wayne, and cowboy poets Red Steagall, Don Hedgepeth, and others.

As an undergraduate, Steve received a scholarship when a professor recognized his academic growth and believed in his potential. That experience stayed with him, and he later paid it forward when he and Melissa established an interdisciplinary CALES scholarship in the College of Agriculture to recognize two students each year who are following a similar path, with an interest in the humanities.

Six years ago, Steve was quite accidentally—though most fortuitously—diagnosed with a rare form of cardiac amyloidosis. The cardiology team at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale had never seen a patient quite like him: a fit, competitive, champion horseman with what was considered a fatal condition.

Bearing his diagnosis with immense grace and bravery, Steve committed to helping doctors learn all they could from his unique perspective. Interestingly, Steve’s nickname at Phi Gamma Delta was “Tin Man,” a perfect metaphor for his innate humanity and his belief in the importance of having a heart. And though his heart would eventually fail, he showed us all how to live a fruitful and abundant life filled with heart.

A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Dayspring United Methodist Church, 1365 E. Elliot Road, Tempe, AZ 85284. Flowers may be sent to the church. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Child Crisis Arizona at www.childcrisisaz.org or to Hospice of the Valley at www.HOV.org.