Steven Robert Bluhm

Steven Bluhm, 72, of San Diego died on October 24, 2023, due to complications from ALS, with his family at his side.

Steve was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Joan Richardson Bluhm and Robert Bluhm. From the age of two he was raised by his mother and her second husband, Stuart F. Young, soon joined by siblings Greg and Andrea.

Steve's childhood was filled with camping, baseball, and music, all of which remained lifelong loves. An Eagle Scout, he never forgot how to start a fire and pitch a tent. His Little League days in Cincinnati segued decades later into becoming a coach and board member for Point Loma Little League. He taught himself guitar, started a garage band in high school, went to Woodstock, and listened to so much music that his lifelong ability to "name that tune" for any rock song from the '50s to the '80s was legendary.

Steve graduated from Miami University of Ohio in Economics, and was a member of Delta Tau Delta, where the friendships he made led to a 50-year tradition of fishing trips to Quebec with his fraternity brothers. He started his career at National City Bank in Cleveland, Ohio, while completing an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace University. He went into investment banking with Smith Barney, then First Boston Corporation in Cleveland and Chicago. He then moved to Columbus, Ohio, as a senior executive directing capital markets strategy for Banc One Corporation. Steve temporarily came out of retirement in 2010 for two years to join the FDIC to help implement the Dodd-Frank Act enacted in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

Steve married Elizabeth Bildsoe of San Diego in 1992, and they had a son, David, joining Steve's three children, Kristin, Kevin, and Kacie, from a previous marriage. The family moved to San Diego in 2001 after Steve left Banc One. Steve loved fatherhood and was a large presence in the lives of his children. His bright smile and big sense of humor filled the house, and he could often be heard laughing, cheering for (or yelling at) the Padres, or delivering one of his many "Dad-isms." He loved doing woodworking projects and finding creative solutions for fixing anything that broke, drawing on his infinite supply of tools and random spare parts and boundless knowledge of how things worked.

An active member of the community, Steve served on the boards of the Endowment Funds of St. Paul's Cathedral and of Vida Joven/Dorcas House, which operates a foster care facility in Tijuana.

Steve was diagnosed with ALS in 2020. He showed grace and patience throughout, and did not let ALS stop him from enjoying life. He finished the NYC Marathon in a wheelchair pushed by athlete Bobby Imamura of Torrance, CA, in November 2022. He loved performances at The Old Globe and San Diego Symphony, visits from friends, and the natural beauty of San Diego.

He always let his family, friends, caregivers, and staff at the UCSD ALS Clinic, the UCSD clinical trials team, and the ALS Association know how much he appreciated them.

Steve is survived by his wife of 31 years, Elizabeth; children Kristin Mobley (Matt) of Charlotte, NC; Kevin Bluhm (Neal Gettling) of Chicago; Kacie Bluhm and David Bluhm of San Diego; his grandchildren Lauren, Alexandra, and Emma Mobley; brother Gregory Young (Anne); nieces and nephews Christine Young Hull (Brad), Jonathan Young (Erin), and Alison (Love Lofstrom), Kate, and Claire Bildsoe; mother-in-law Nancy Bildsoe, and brother-in-law Paul Bildsoe. He was predeceased by his parents and beloved sister, Andrea Young.

Steve's Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, March 10th at 11am at the San Diego Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Steven Bluhm Fund at the ALS Association of San Diego www.als.org/StevenBluhm