Brandon Matthew Steele, 21, of Gainesville, Florida, passed away on February 12, 2019. Brandon was born on January 7, 1998 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He attended Beaches Episcopal School in Jacksonville, Florida. Brandon went on to attend the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, were he was a member of the Episcopal Rowing team. Brandon attended Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California where he honed his remarkable artistic talents and ultimately completed his high school degree at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC in June 2017. Brandon attended Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL through 2018.
Brandon was a talented artist, creating beautiful paintings, sketches and handmade jewelry for those he loved. Brandon’s passion for helping others was most clearly seen through his entrepreneurial endeavors, from using his incredible knowledge of information technology to open pathways of free speech to repressed populations across the world to developing salve ointments made of organic ingredients and essential oils that he sold online to help those with a variety of skin conditions. Brandon was a political enthusiast who actively expressed his political perspective. Fiercely independent and strong willed, Brandon never gave up in his fight to find answers to life’s most complicated and confounding problems.
Brandon will always be remembered by his introspection, kindness and empathetic heart. He will also be remembered for his love of animals, particularly his black cat, Albert, whom he adopted from the Jacksonville Humane Society in 2015. His influence will forever remain in the lives of those who had the privilege of knowing him. Brandon departed this life at his home in Gainesville, FL on February 12, 2019. He was preceded in death by his young sister, Brooke Alexandra Behinfar, his maternal grandfather, Philip Miceli and maternal uncle, Salvatore Miceli.
Brandon’s life and legacy will be cherished by his parents, David Behinfar (Katherine Georger) of Durham, NC, and Ann Marie Steele of Jacksonville, FL; his brother, Bradshaw Steele (Savannah Lee) of Gainesville, FL; his paternal grandparents, Mehdi and Maria Behinfar of Scottsdale, AZ; his maternal grandmother, Cheryl Miceli of Indiannapolis, IN; paternal aunt and uncles: Renee Behinfar, Anthony Behinfar, and Abraham Behinfar of Scottsdale, AZ; maternal aunt and uncles: Beth Miceli-Cooper (Michael Cooper) of Jacksonville, FL, Nick Miceli of Indianapolis, IN, Kris Miceli of Denver, CO; cousins: Andrew Cooper and Gabriella Cooper both of Jacksonville, FL; Phil Miceli, Alex Miceli and Dominic Miceli all of Denver, CO.
Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at BEACHES CHAPEL BY HARDAGE-GIDDENS, 1701 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.
In lieu of flowers, please make a small donation to one of the following charities in Brandon’s honor: the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, www.bbrfoundation.org, or the Jacksonville Humane Society, www.jaxhumane.org.
