Jeffrey Callaway Steele

Dr. Jeffrey Callaway Steele, PhD (1961 - 2025), was Professor Emeritus of Theatre at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, brother, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law, teacher, mentor, and friend.

Jeff shared his wide-ranging and immense wealth of knowledge with passion and enthusiasm, blessing students and colleagues with his love of life and learning. His expertise in Shakespeare, theatre history and literature, acting, film studies, English and American literature, and speech was shared as a multi-disciplinary faculty member at Principia College, as he taught across a range of disciplines.

He established and served as Head Coach for the Principia College Mediation Team, bringing home many trophies from national and international competitions. He was chosen as “Coach of the Year” in 2016 by the International Academy of Dispute Resolution. Students thrived under his coaching, leadership, and mentorship.

A love and passion for theatre ran deep throughout his life. He was a member of Actor’s Equity Association, Society of American Fight Directors, and Shakespeare Association of America. As an actor Jeff was known professionally as Geoff Callaway. He performed with numerous theatre companies in roles ranging from Shakespeare to comedy to improvisation. He was a founding member of Bankside Repertory Theatre in Alton, Illinois where he wrote, performed, and produced. Jeff was a playwright, and many of his more recent plays were produced by Bankside. A company and audience favorite was A Dickens of a Tale, a touching and humorous retelling of A Christmas Carol.

Jeff began his journey in academia at Pinecrest High School in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. The lore of the class of 1979 lives on in the many stories of their antics and deep friendships. Jeff continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois completing a BS (1983) and an MA (1984) in performance studies. He built lasting friendships in the theater and his fraternity Lamba Chi Alpha. Theatre productions, hilarious escapades, and deep friendships built a legacy as a scholar, theatre artist, friend, and comedian. Jeff’s voracious reading and love of learning continued at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, England where he obtained his doctorate in Shakespeare. His dissertation The Fascination of Evil: Mental Malpractice in Shakespearean Tragedy (2009) was one of his crowning academic achievements. The three years spent in England with his family were some of the most academically challenging and joyous times in his life. He built lasting friendships at church, at the Institute, and in the local community.

Some of Jeff’s fondest memories and stories that he regaled his friends and family with came from his enjoyment of the great outdoors. His love of camping and frontiersmanship began at Camp Owatonna in Maine, and later at Adventure Unlimited in Colorado. Ever the generous soul, he devoted time during his professional career to working and volunteering at the same camps he grew up attending, as well as local organizations like the Daniel Boone home in Defiance, Missouri.

His life of service and love is further exemplified by his spiritual practice and metaphysical work. Devoting countless hours to better understanding himself and his relationship to God, he selflessly volunteered at the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Jerseyville, Illinois, participated in the local Ministerial Alliance, and did not hesitate to share perspectives on how he had grown as a person.

Above all, he blessed those who were close to him with his dependable friendship and joyful optimism. Always quick with a joke and witty word play, conversations with Jeff were engaging and uplifting. A patron of the arts and cinema, he loved a good movie, documentary, book, play, and he especially loved to discuss, analyze, and review them with his professional insights.

Jeff’s keen wit and vivacious performances blessed all he came into contact with, turning strangers into friends in record time. He was graceful and welcoming to everyone, demonstrating the power of laughter, love, and a good attitude. His love and legacy lives on through his family: his wife Chrissy, and children Annalicia, Boone and Olivia, and his sister Valerie Steele. He cherished those close to him, always sharing his laughter, love, and wisdom which will always live on.

A fund has been set up in his honor.

Dr. Jeffrey C. Steele Endowed Fund for Mediation

https://content.principia.edu/giving/givingform.php?s=steele

Celebration of Life service for Jeff Steele

Sunday, May 25 at 2:00pm central daylight time

In person at Principia College, Davis Black Box Theatre

1 Maybeck Place

Elsah, IL 62028

On Zoom

https://principia-edu.zoom.us/j/88672867712

Meeting ID: 886 7286 7712