Stevenson Yost

1931 - 2021

Stevenson (Steve) Yost

1931 - 2021

Steve was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, one of three children, to Helen (Gatchell) and John S. L. Yost. Steve had 2 sisters, Julia, and Clarissa (now deceased). He is survived by his wife Barbara of St. Helena. And from his first wife (Elizabeth Bravender) he has a daughter Virginia Yost (married to Fred Williams) living in Portland, OR, and son David (married to Kimberly) and grandson, Keaton, living in Sacramento, CA. Other survivors include a niece Catherine Murphy of Easton, MD and nephews John White of Charleston, SC and Douglas Higgs of Bowie, MD.

Steve attended Newtrier High School in Evanston, IL and graduated from Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, NJ. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1954. He was in the U.S. Army Intelligence, Special Agent, from 1955 to 1957. He had a very successful 28-year career with Bethlehem Steel. In 1983 he established the Steve Yost Sales Company representing steel producers in the Midwest and South Korea. He retired in 2012 after 29 years with his own firm.

Steve met his wife Barbara Barnhart in 1971 and they were married in Yosemite National Park in 1975.

The location had great meaning for them both as they had numerous back packing trips to Yosemite and were members and supporters of the Yosemite Conservancy and the Sierra Club. Barbara and Steve first lived in Muir Beach (15 years) in a home overlooking the ocean. They then moved to Ehlers Lane (29 years) where they built their own home and planted a vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. The vineyard was known as 4Row Vineyard and grapes were sold over the years to many well-known wineries in the Napa Valley. Steve and Barbara also had their own label and the wines were made at Judd's Hill Winery. While living in Muir Beach, a Puli adopted Steve and Barbara and over the years they enjoyed 9 Pulix. They became active in the Puli Club and showed some of their dogs in sponsored dog shows. Steve particularity enjoyed Paws for Healing (2006 to 2016), taking his dogs to the St. Helena Hospital and the California Veterans Home in Yountville.

Steve was a great sportsman, Captain of the Tennis Team at both Ridgewood High School and at Johns Hopkins University. He was nationally ranked in singles squash, playing at the Olympic Club, and University Club and in doubles for the Kiva Club in Santa Fe, NM. Steve loved to play Texas Hold-Em, both in California and Nevada and he participated in numerous tournaments.

Steve was also active in service clubs including Kiwanis and served as a board member of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation. He was Chairman of the Monterey Rugby Classic Tournment held at Pebble Beach from 1964 to 1987.

Steve was active at Grace Episcopal Church, Saint Helena, where he was the leader of a Men's Small Group which met every Tuesday night from 1995. Steve died in Napa on October 14th after a difficult battle with Parkinson's Disease. His ashes will be buried at Grace Episcopal Church.