Steven Warren Reckhow

Reckhow,

Steven Warren

Cambridge, MA: Steven Warren Reckhow, age 65, of Cambridge, MA, beloved husband and best friend of Sylvia Jean Wheeler passed peacefully at home on February 26, 2016 after a brief illness. He was an engineer, planner and real estate developer who focused his energies and passion on making neighborhoods and communities more vibrant and sustainable.

Steve grew up in Irondequoit, NY in a family that revered learning, the wonders of nature and exploration in all things. His curious mind and never-ending interests fueled his energetic life. He graduated from Columbia University with a dual degree in civil engineering and urban planning and graduate studies in public administration at Boston University. He worked for five years as a planner for the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Planning & Development District (SRPEDD) followed by several years as a planning and energy consultant at a small international consulting firm and later as an independent energy consultant. .

In the 1980's, Steve's early interest in real estate grew to envision projects from affordable housing to multi-family historic restorations in Cambridge. His passion for urban revitalization, sustainable design and historic preservation was the driving force for Neighborhood Design, a private development company he established with his wife. They completed several residential and a multi-use project that won Cambridge Historic Preservation Awards and that have contributed to the revitalization of the Mid-Cambridge neighborhood.

Steve is the son of the late Warren Addison and Norma Meyer Reckhow. He enjoyed a loving family life that includes his sister, Anne Clarkson and husband, Chris, of Webster, NY; brothers Robert Reckhow of Edmunton, Canada; and Wayne Reckhow and wife, Barbra, of Bradenton, FL; nieces Lynne, Nancy, Alyssa, Taylor, Jensen and nephew, Grant Reckhow; aunt, Marge Meyer, and uncle, John Meyer and wife, Marcia; cousins David and Tracy Meyer, Glenn Meyer, Emily Reid; David and Kenneth Reckhow and Gail and John Collins. Embraced into the Wheeler family as a brother to Robert and Kit Wheeler of Hampton, NH; David Wheeler of Hollis, NH; Elizabeth Scannell of Chelmsford, MA; and uncle to Wendy Belair; Christopher, Jeffrey and Jennifer Wheeler.

A memorial service will celebrate Steve's life Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 3:00 pm at First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, 3 Church Street, Cambridge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WBUR www.wbur.org and First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist www.firstparishcambridge.org. To send a condolence please visit www.keefefuneralhome.com.