Born February 26, 1958, Madison, Wisconsin. Died August 22, 2022, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Survived by his wife, Amy (Cohen) Wendt, stepchildren, Joshua Murray, (fiance, Kristi Koziarz), and Jessica Murray, brother Bradley Wendt (Pamela), sister Stacy Gulden, many nieces and nephews, and cherished friends.
Proud Cheesehead, Packer Backer and Brew Crew fan, graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Steve considered his Wyvern brothers from Michigan State his family and was a fan and supporter of Michigan State football and basketball, even going so far as to own a home next to campus with the walls painted Spartan green and adorned with his prized MSU memorabilia.
After earning his MBA from Michigan, he worked in Chicago before moving to NYC to achieve his dream of becoming an investment banker, working for Lehman Brothers in Healthcare Public finance. That’s where he met his next family, a group of investment and baseball enthusiasts, with whom he ran the PF and LS Rotisserie baseball leagues for his team, Beavis’s Buttheads, for over 30 years. He moved upstate to work as a Health Care consultant where he met the love of his life and wooed her with red chewy candy until she said yes. After promising her she’d never regret marrying him, he lived up to that promise every single day for almost 20 years. Steve built a thriving health care data business with his partners, sold to 3M, then moved to Florida to enjoy too few years of good health in retirement. There he met his next family, his Mirasol friends, many of whom shared his love of working out at 6am, yoga, tennis and spring training baseball.
At the age of 60, Steve rode a horse for the first time and became a polo player. Steve loved the Berkshires, Tanglewood, classical music and culture. He was an avid gardener, reader, WWII history buff, wine and beer aficionado, hater of icky stuff, granter of clever nicknames, investor, and Reagan conservative. He became a student of everything he was interested in, including people he loved. He was mentally disciplined and intellectually curious. He just “knew stuff”, but was mild-mannered, selfless, shy, and humble about it all. He was known for his clever wit, quirkiness, knowledge of sports, dedication to healthy living, and being the best husband, stepfather, friend, and cat papa. He will be missed, but the lessons he taught to Amy, Josh, and Jess about being disciplined, courageous, loyal, and generous will live on forever - “1,2,3 I will win!”
Former Chairman of the Board of Community Hospice in Albany, NY, Steve was rewarded for his service by the loving care of Trustbridge Hospice Care, Palm Beach County, Florida and Hospice Care in the Berkshires. To honor Steve’s memory, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Steve’s name to either of the following organizations: Trustbridge - 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407 or HospiceCare in the Berkshires - 877 South Street, Suite, 1W, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
A private memorial service to be held at a future date in Palm Beach Gardens.