Steven Rhoads

1939 - 2026

Professor Steven Eric Rhoads, 86, of Earlysville, Virginia, died on January 2, 2026. Dr. Rhoads taught in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia from 1970 to 2014. During his forty-four year tenure, he was the author of several books, among them The Economist's View of the World, published in 1984. That work is in the top 1% in sales of all books published by Cambridge University Press since World War II. The second edition, published in 2021, was selected as one of the Ten Best Books of 2024 by the Wall Street Journal and London Financial Times. Dr. Rhoads also published Incomparable Worth (1993), and Taking Sex Differences Seriously (2001).

Professor Rhoads often taught controversial topics and sought lively discussion in his classes. The popularity of his classes drew many more students than could be accommodated. To address this situation, he devised an application form from which he purposely chose students with different points of view. He enjoyed acting as a personal mentor to his students who felt that he tried not only to enlighten them intellectually, but also to help shape their character for the better. Yet, most importantly, Professor Rhoads was kind and supportive to his colleagues, taking great interest not only in their professional academic accomplishments but also in their personal happiness.

Professor Rhoads was born on 12 May 1939, in Abington, Pennsylvania, to John Reginald Rhoads and Barbara (Dugan) Rhoads. As a child, he enjoyed the company of his two brothers, Jay and Mike, as well as his sister, Deirdre. He graduated from Abington High School as class president and lettered in football, basketball, and tennis. He suspected he was the only person to play an entire season as the starting quarterback at Abington and not throw a touchdown pass. After Abington, he attended Princeton University where he was an indifferent student until he wrote his senior thesis. Researching and writing that thesis created his interest in public policy and public service that eventually led to a doctorate at Cornell University in 1972. Shortly after his graduation from Princeton, while serving as an officer in the United States Navy (1962-65), he met his future wife, Diana Akers, whom he married in 1967. She became a professor of English and Rhetoric at Hampden Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia. During their forty-one years of marriage, they not only shared a pleasure in discussing ideas, but most of all, a love for their three boys, Christopher, Nicholas, and John.

After the death of his wife in 2008 from breast cancer, Professor Rhoads married Margaret "Peggy" Campbell Boeker in 2010. Over their sixteen years together, they shared her love of travel and foreign affairs, while Professor Rhoads shared his love of football, tennis, and basketball with her.

Professor Rhoads was predeceased by an older brother, John Jay Rhoads. He is survived by his second wife, Margaret Rhoads, and her three children. He is also survived by his brother, Michael Rhoads, and his sister Deirdre Snyder, along with his children, Christopher Rhoads, John Rhoads, Nicholas Rhoads, and his five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the University of Virginia Chapel, 145 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 pm.

The family asks that instead of flowers, contributions be sent to The Hope Fund, c/o Beth Towe Heck, 304 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.