Stephen Webb Welch, 81, of Coventry, CT, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was born April 5, 1936 in Santa Barbara, CA to Donald and Genevieve (Hinkle) Welch. Steve attended Stanford University with a full scholarship through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, graduating in 1958 with a B.A. in Economics. From 1958 - 1961 he served as a U.S. Naval Officer, 2nd Lieutenant. He then attended U.C. Berkeley and received a Masters in Economics in 1965.
Steve distinguished himself as a Professor of Economics at the University of Connecticut, Kenyon College, and the State University of New York, Fredonia. During these years he was active in civil rights and anti-war efforts. Leaving academia, he served for several years as an Economic Consultant on the Minimum Wage Study Commission in Washington, D.C. during the Carter Administration. Steve spent the rest of his career leading companies co-founded by his father and grandfather in the funeral industry. He served as Chairman of the Board at East Lawn Inc., Sacramento, CA and at Bonney Watson, Seattle, WA, from 1979 until his retirement.
A lifelong learner, Steve was passionate about books, voraciously reading history, politics, fiction and poetry. For many years he served on the Board of Curbstone Press, a non-profit publishing house dedicated to literature that reflects a commitment to social change, with an emphasis on contemporary writing from Latin America and Latino communities in the U.S. He traveled widely during his lifetime and developed a special fascination with Mexico, returning many times to explore its culture and to collect art and folk-art. Steve loved to tell a story, and never missed an opportunity to share a good laugh. He was fiercely loyal to friends and family and was, in all senses of the word, a gentleman.
Steve is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Moreschi) Welch; by three sons and their families: Gregory and wife Ann Lewnes, and children George and Nicholas of Palo Alto, CA; Douglas and wife Caitlin Gutheil, and daughter Genevieve of Portland, ME; Benjamin and partner Wendy Clements, and daughter Maya Banyacski of Eugene, OR. Steve is also survived by his brother, Richard Welch and his family in Santa Barbara, CA.
The family offers their gratitude to the entire staff of Brookdale Buckingham of Glastonbury, CT, where Steve spent his last years. Their dedication, professionalism and deep compassion allowed Steve to enjoy a productive and satisfying life while residing in their community, an extraordinary accomplishment in the face of Alzheimer's Disease.
The family is planning a Memorial Service on Saturday, September 9th at Noon at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Road, Tolland. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (https://act.alz.org/site/Donation); the American Civil Liberties Union (https://action.aclu.org/donate-ACLU); or to the National Immigration Law Center (https://www.nilc.org).
To leave an online expression of sympathy for the family, please visit: www.pietrasfuneralhome.com.