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Stephen Wesselhoff Obituary
Stephen Thomas Wesselhoff
Aug. 7,1948 - April 29, 2022
ODESSA, Florida - Stephen Thomas Wesselhoff, 73, passed away on April 29, 2022, in Tampa, FL.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Suanne of Odessa, FL; daughters: Laura Lopez of Tampa, FL, and Amy (David) Kasper of Odessa, FL; grandchildren: Brie and Camryn Lopez of Tampa, Olivia and Cooper Kasper of Odessa; and sister, Kathi Wesselhoff of Odessa. Also surviving are his uncle, Bob (Deb) Wesselhoff of Pontiac, IL, and brother-in-law Carl Vose of Normal, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents Beverly and Kenneth Wesselhoff.
After graduating from Illinois State University, Mr. Wesselhoff entered the Navy, became a Naval Flight Officer, and attained the rank of Captain. He Served in four separate squadrons and on five different aircraft carriers. While in the Navy he earned a Masters Degree from Georgetown University in Government, and an ABD Degree from Salve Regina University in Humanities. He concluded his 25 years of active duty at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He went on to teach NJROTC at Leto High School in Tampa, FL, for 15 years before retiring again.
Steve was an avid golfer, scoring a hole-in-one in 2007. He loved biking, working out, reading just about any history book he could find, and traveling. Every trip included his golf clubs.
Captain Wesselhoff's private burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, at a later date.
Memorials may be made toThe Parkinson's Foundation at parkinson.org.
Memories and Condolences
for Stephen Wesselhoff
2 Entries
Giselle Gonzalez (Roman)
May 14, 2024
Captain Wesselhoff, you came to my mind as I thought of Seargent Major and his wake where I last saw you. It saddens me to now discover your passing but as a previous NJROTC student who graduated in 2009, you were funny, sarcastic and incredibly bright and encouraging. Blessed are those who have come to know you, God Bless you and may you be in the wonderful kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Until we meet again!
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Jon-Paul Lavandeira
September 2, 2022
The loss of Captain Wesselhoff is especially painful for me. I was blessed by God to be one of his ROTC students at Leto High School, and his impact upon me cannot be understated. In life's path there are those whom you merely pass by transactionally, those you may somewhat remember, and those that are integral and transformational to your journey. Captain Wesselhoff was and always will be such an integral and transformational figure for me.
Captain Wesselhoff's calm and cerebral nature w/ us cadets hid a deep and uncompromising drive for excellence which translated down to me and many others. It was in large measure because of that drive and passion for excellence which Captain Wesselhoff imparted upon me that I was able to earn appointments and offers of admission to both West Point and Annapolis (the latter of which he personally nominated me for).
While I ultimately chose Army over Navy, Captain Wesselhoff's leadership lessons have stayed w/ me always. One of the most profound gifts he gave me was his example of what it truly means to be an officer. While I saw and served w/ numerous "leaders" who tried to model themselves as officers based on Hollywood movies or strange esoteric concept books, Captain Wesselhoff provided me w/ a real world roadmap and inspiration to draw from. The way in which Captain Wesselhoff gave his subordinates room to learn and grow, while gently (and when needed sternly) guiding us on the right path is truly an art and a skill that very few have mastered. His example helped me in ways I cannot express, especially as things got rough during my combat deployments and other tough times. While Captain Wesselhoff held us to high and uncompromising standards, I also knew that he truly cared for us. This at the end of the day is truly the essence of leadership and of officership.
Throughout my military career and even beyond into civilian life, I have found that I have always subconsciously compared my commanders and supervisors to the standard set by Captain Wesselhoff and to this date none has even come close. I will always be grateful to Captain Wesselhoff and I thank God for the blessing he gave me in placing him in my life. Thank you sir for your inspiration, for pulling for me when times got tough, and for your friendship. God bless you, Mrs. Wesselhoff, and all your family.
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