Steven R. "Steve" Coates

Steven R. "Steve" Coates, age 70, of Broomall, PA, passed on November 14, 2024 at home with his family and friends.

Steve was a loving and devoted husband and father, as well as a treasured friend to all he met. Steve was a loyal, generous, and dependable friend with a wide variety of interests. Steve always put his heart and soul into everything he found of interest throughout his life. In his younger days, he was a “roadie” for local bands such as Beru HaHa, as well as having the opportunity to work with renowned groups such as Alice Cooper and Phil Collins. He was a dirt track car owner and racer after college, that ultimately resulted in a nearly fatal fire that burned 50% of his body. However, Steve’s love of life made him more determined to move forward despite the pain. Steve became a devoted Civil War re-enactor for many years in the 4th Texas Infantry, Company B, where he would crawl around hot summer fields in authentic civil war garb and weaponry. Steve was an avid reader of history, especially during the Civil War and WWII eras. He rapidly advanced to be a 32nd degree Mason, Community Lodge #744, due to his exceptional speed reading and memorization skills. Steve participated in numerous charity and fund-raising events with his Masonic brothers and other charity groups. Steve was also a fanatical NASCAR enthusiast that attended every Bristol night race for over 2 decades, in addition to numerous, infamous, race tracks across the country. More recently, Steve had been an intense follower of Elon Musk and his Space X program, which he unfortunately did not have the opportunity to witness a live launch of the Starship.

Steve was born in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1954. He was the beloved husband of Jill L. (nee Earl) Coates; devoted and loving father of Hannah L. Coates; caring and adoring son of Mary Frances (nee Law) Coates; treasured and loved brother-in-law of Craig and Jennifer Earl; uncle to Justin Earl and wife Justine and the Harver and Wallace families. 

Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 9:30-11:00 AM Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000, followed by his Funeral Service at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow immediately after the service at Glenwood Memorial Gardens. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Methodist Services, 4300 Monument Road, Philadelphia, PA 19131, would be appreciated.