James Stephen Deupree

Steve, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, lived a life full of adventure and an unlimited sense of possibilities. The world was his realm of exploration. He lived, with his life, Love, as an action verb.

After graduating from Cincinnati Country Day School, he attended and graduated from Princeton University. There he earned a BA in Architecture.

He rowed for Princeton and was captain of the rowing team. Rowing is a demanding sport and he enjoyed it thoroughly. Steve was competitive, striving to win at any game or sport he ever played. As a senior in college, he traveled by himself around the world, crossing through The Soviet Union on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. That trip instilled in him a love of other cultures, people, and places. Throughout his life, his travels took him on many adventures: from accidentally meeting and being blessed by the Pope, to narrowly escaping war in Nigeria by getting the last seat on the last flight out of the country. Steve always loved a good trip, especially when they could be recounted into good stories.

Post college, he lived in New York City. He worked in a variety of professions: in an architect’s office, an advertising agency, as a model, and as an actor in TV ads. He was even on the Jeopardy show, where he won an Encyclopedia. These years gave him much fodder for many wonderful stories.

Family summers were spent every year of his life, except for one, in Sylvan Beach on Lake Michigan. Sylvan Beach embodied home for Steve. He loved Sylvan and always looked forward to his time there, eager to add more happy family memories and to tell the same wonderful stories over and over and over again. Sylvan was his place of healing, connection, and inspiration. It was his most cherished place in the entire world.

The pivotal point in Steve’s life, while in his early thirties, was the moment he was healed of a life-threatening physical condition. Because of this experience, his faith was profoundly grounded, and he soon found Christian Science, which helped to explain to him how his complete healing could be possible. Christian Science also provided him with a church home, where he could explore and express his love for God, The Christ, and man. Most importantly, it was on the steps of the Christian Science church in Charlottesville, Virginia where he met Cynthia, his wife of 38 years.

He dabbled in light construction, and being an Innkeeper; but Steve soon found his calling as a teacher. Teaching placed him right in the middle of young people, just where he loved to be. Steve was a master teacher, andtaught eighth-grade ancient history for twenty-two years at Saint Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Virginia. He delighted in the curiosity and silliness of these young teens. In fact, after years of hearing middle school jokes at faculty parties, Cynthia would often speculate that Steve loved teaching eighth graders because he was still a kid at heart. His love of travel and experiential learning impelled him to take his students to Russia, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Watching students gain an expanded sense of the world and sharing with them the Mediterranean area – which he truly felt was one of his heart-spots – never ceased to delight him.

After retiring from teaching, Steve volunteered for Discovery Bound National Leadership Council (DB-NLC), a Christian Science program designed to foster spiritual growth and develop servant leadership skills for high school teens. He loved to share his passion for faith and adventure with his team of high-schoolers.. Only teenagers could get Steve to go mountain biking in the Rockies, or crewing on the USS Brig Niagara, a tall square rigged sailing ship, on Lake Erie, or even camping. When it came to mentoring and faith, Steve was all in. The relationships he fostered in DB-NLC were some of his most cherished.

Steve was a talented artist his whole life, but in recent years he became very prolific. He loved color and light. And using the medium of water-based oils, painted color and light, water and sky, inspired by the fields, lakes, mountains, and skies of Virginia, Michigan, and the Pacific Northwest. His paintings hang on many walls, bringing joy and delight to all who view them.

Steve was a pillar of stability and love for both his immediate and extended families. He was a devoted husband to Cynthia. He was an exceptional father to Jamie and Maddie and would do anything to foster their sturdy growth. He encouraged their pursuit of possibilities without limitation and was present. He adored his four grandchildren. His fatherly love and unlimited support extended even beyond his immediate family. Steve’s idea of family grew to include many, many friends. He connected to his extensive Friend-Family by Love and shared adventures. He constantly planned gatherings and reunions. He especially loved large Mediterranean family style dinners. These “Tuscan” dinners, often held under the Harvest moon, became a beloved tradition. His warm smile and ready laughter welcomed everyone with joy. Steve expressed joy, kindness, compassion, and unbounded creative energy. He loved generously and unconditionally. His uplifting sense of Love touched many lives.

Steve was preceded into eternal Life by his mother Mary (Polly) Harwood Deupree, his father James Young Deupree, his eldest sister Janet (Pepper) Deupree Miller, and his younger brother Charles (Charlie) Redwood Deupree. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; his children: Jamie (Stephanie) and Maddie (Lee); his grandchildren: Penelope, Logan, Henry, and Red; his sister Margot Deupree Taylor; his step-brother David Whittaker (Julie), his step-sister Sally Whittaker; sixteen nieces and nephews; many grand nieces and nephews; and his beloved dogs Gracie and Thatcher. He is now reunited in Heaven with his favorite dog, Otis.

Steve is loved, and we are grateful to have been an intimate part of his life.

A private Celebration of Life will be held early in the summer of 2025.