Mr. William Steif

BLYTHEWOOD - William “Bill” Steif, a journalist, died peacefully at his home in Blythewood on October 15, 2016 at the age of 93. His wife of 40 years, Susan Watt Steif, was by his side. The cause of death was respiratory failure related to dementia. Bill was born February 1, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Benjamin Leo Steif, an architect and real estate developer, and Ruth Weinberger Steif. The family moved to Glencoe, and Bill graduated from New Trier Township High School. As a boy he enjoyed canoeing and swimming at Camp Nebagamon in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, and later in life he swam daily for exercise and fun. Bill enrolled at Stanford University in 1940 and joined the staff of the newspaper, “The Stanford Daily.” He left college to enlist in the Army Air Corps during World War II and served as weatherman on Baffin Island, a hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle, until the war’s conclusion. Returning to Stanford, he finished his major in History, graduating in 1947, and began to work for the San Francisco Daily News as a reporter. Although his father had encouraged him to become an architect, Bill was an intensely curious person who had a passion for his role as an “old-fashioned newspaperman,” and he enjoyed his career immensely. In 1951 Bill married his first wife, Virginia Rogers, with whom he had four daughters. From 1952 to 1953 he had a prestigious Nieman Fellowship for Journalism at Harvard University. In 1962 he moved from San Francisco to the Washington, D.C. area to work for the national news organization, Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, as a syndicated reporter. Throughout his career he also wrote for a variety of magazines, including The Christian Science Monitor and The Progressive. In addition, he authored a book about Social Security and taught journalism at Howard University. Bill was transferred to Paris in 1973 and reported from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa until 1977. He married his second wife, Susan, in 1975 in Paris. He again reported from Washington, D.C. from 1977 to 1982, and they then “retired” to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the next 16 years he wrote a column in the Virgin Island Daily News, which occasionally carried the byline of his favorite Dalmation, “Radar.” He continued to travel and write stories about the Caribbean for numerous publications until 2008. He attributed his longevity to “working hard until I was eighty-five.” In fact, Bill enjoyed life, dogs, friends, and traveling with Susan. He was interested in all manner of things and loved to question people about their experiences. He had a grand sense of humor and was outgoing, expansive, and affable. Always an avid reader, he had a broad knowledge of history and literature. He adored Paris, butter pecan ice cream, warm Caribbean tradewinds, Japanese art, martinis with olives, and opera, especially Mozart. At his big 90th birthday party, Bill revealed that in addition to working and traveling, the keys to his happy life were relaxation and spending time with his beloved wife, Susan. Soon thereafter he had a brain hemorrhage but fought his way back to be able to walk, swim, and read again. As his health failed, he remained unfailingly appreciative and polite to his round-the-clock caregivers whose assistance enabled him to live at home until his death. Bill was often visited by his much loved daughters, Dr. Barbara Steif (Judy Chambers) of Portland, Oregon, Peggy Steif Abram (Jonathan) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rooh Steif (John Zuker) of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Ellen Abram, Kate Abram, Joely Zuker, and Charles Zuker. The second of his daughters, Ellen, died of liver cancer in 1979. He was also attached to his nephews, Dr. Kevin Watt of Durham, North Carolina, Brian Watt of Atlanta, Georgia, Christopher Watt of Houston, Texas, and Michael Watt of Edmond, Oklahoma; his nieces, Debbie Freehling Widenerof Des Plaines, Illinois, Margaret Freehling Phillips of Auburn, Alabama, Meagan Watt Higinbotham of Mancos, Colorado, and Jennifer Watt Miller of Edmond, Oklahoma; his brothers-in-law, Dr. George Watt (Janet) of Chapin, Justice Joseph Watt (Cathy) of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Stanley Freehling of Highland Park, Illinois; his sister-in-law, Fairfax Watt of Columbia; and their families. His younger sister, Joan Steif Freehling, predeceased him. We mourn the passing of Bill Steif, whose big personality brought contagious enthusiasm to all and made us laugh. We were fortunate to have him in our lives. Susan requests that donations in his memory be made to the Juvenile Diabestes Research Foundation; Ellen Rogers Steif Memorial Award at Carleton College or the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church (2827 Wheat St., Columbia, SC) on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Reception will follow the service. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.