Stephen Phillips McCrady

1942 - 2023

(January 31st, 1942 – October 24th, 2023)

If Steve McCrady ever had a bad day, no one knew it. The best father, grandfather and uncle any kid could ever hope for, Steve always had time for his family and made every moment more fun with his childlike exuberance and zest for life. On October 24 th , 2023, the world lost a larger-than-life personality with a giant smile and a heart to match. Steve was 81 years old when he passed away due to a heart attack at his residence in Coral Springs, Florida.

Stephen Phillips McCrady was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 31st, 1942 to Marjorie Jane "Peg" Phillips Crowley (d. 2003), of Oakmont, famous portrait and landscape artist, and graduate of Carnegie Tech in 1936, and James Hamilton McCrady III (d. 1949), whose family was one of the principals in the McCrady-Rodgers Company, which was one of the largest providers of building materials in western Pennsylvania. Steve was also preceded in death by his stepfather of 40 years, John J. "Jack Crowley (d. 2000), a 50-year Pittsburgh construction industry official and World War II Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, surviving the Battle of the Bulge, D-Day, and the liberation of Paris.

Steve grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Oakmont, where he attended elementary and junior high school. He loved his summers at Lake Chautauqua, at the family cottage in Bemus Point, NY, where he developed his love of the water and sailing. From 1956 until 1960, he attended the prestigious Mercersburg Academy, and he graduated from Syracuse University in 1964 with a BA in Business as a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. His favorite holiday was Veterans Day, and served as an officer in the United States Coast Guard from 1965-1969.

On March 6th, 1965 Steve married Janice Brockway (d. 1991) of Peoria, IL in Erie, Pennsylvania, when he was 23 and she was 22. Their daughter, Marjorie Janice McCrady, was born July 7th, 1970. Steve and Jan were married for 21 years before divorcing in 1986. Steve is grandfather to Margie's boys, Nicholas, Brian, Jarrett, and Jordan. In 1991, Steve married his surviving wife of 33 years, Michele Elmire Reynolds McCrady, and Steve was stepfather to Debbie Kahn and Dean Reynolds, and grandfather to their children, Jay, Sara, Yoseph, and Mia.

In February of 2022, a DNA test had revealed that Steve had a fathered a child with college girlfriend Barbara Anne Davis (d. 1977) in the Spring of 1964 in Grove City, PA. He immediately reached out to his son, John Robert Rodgers (59) and set up a meeting in Pittsburgh. They met in March and quickly made up for lost time, becoming close and corresponding many times since then. Steve's new family included John's wife Jill, and their children, Kami Toth, Nicholas (d.), Maddie, Will, and Jonny, and great-grandchildren, Kellen, Harrison, and Marcus Toth.

Steve McCrady sold real estate in South Florida for over 50 years, including the land that used to be Six Flags Atlantis Water Park and is now Dania Point Shopping Mall. Steve believed strongly in giving back to his community and volunteered with the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees), the Kiwanis (K01097), Toastmasters and the Optimists International clubs of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was involved with Big Brothers and Sisters, and he and Michele fostered multiple children over the years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale for most of his life, but also attended Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in his later years.

Steve doted over his daughter and loved to brag about her career as a school teacher and administrator. He loved his brothers James Hamilton McCrady IV (wife Evelyne) of Lake City, FL, and Thomas Emerson McCrady (wife Elizabeth) of North East, PA, and spoke to them multiple times a week for their entire lives. He was proud of all of his nieces and nephews (Michael, Shannon, Matthew, Aimee, and Jenny), but he especially close with James's sons, James, Christian and Mitchell McCrady and beamed about their careers as ocean lifeguards on Fort Lauderdale beach.

Stephen P. McCrady loved to play golf, liked to have a beer or a stiff drink, and enjoyed a good cigar from time to time. But more than anything, Steve loved people, helping them, and being there for his family and friends. He was one of those guys that could be called on at any time, day or night, and he would be there for others. His hearty laugh, wide smile, and warm demeanor will be sorely missed by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him. The impact he had on others and the memories he created will live on forever.

All are welcome to an informal, outdoor memorial celebration on Sunday, December 31st, 2023 at Colee Hammock Park, 1500 Brickell Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL at 12:30 pm. For close family and friends, an indoor remembrance ceremony will be held at 3800 NW 78th Way, Coral Springs, FL, on January 2nd, 2024 at 2:00 pm. In lieu flowers, please donate to: https://gofund.me/0089eefc