James Rich Steers Jr. ’48

Dick Steers was the most thoughtful and caring of classmates. He knew just about everyone in the class and extracted dollars even-handedly from affluent and less affluent. He was a class agent who won the respect and affection of all and achieved 98.2% participation along the way. He was as avid a Princetonian as his Class of '20 father.

Dick had more than his share of adversity but more than ample courage to meet the challenges. His physical health was a disaster; he lost both legs above the knees to diabetes and suffered countless other ailments. He had a serious financial reversal a few years ago. Through all the trials his enthusiasm for living and for Princeton lacrosse never missed a beat. He victimized his old friend, the late Dick Green, by cajoling him into relaying the local broadcasts of lacrosse by phone into the Steers's New York domicile.

Few knew of his devotion to Alcoholics Anonymous and the joy he experienced recently in marking his 40 years of continuous sobriety in AA and in the AA way of living.

A native New Yorker, Dick joined us along with the Exeter contingent. He graduated with a BS in civil engineering and survived Tiger Inn. Most of his career was in marine and foundation construction.

Dick is survived by his widow, PK, and sons, James Rich III, George, Philip, and Robert. To them the class expresses its heartfelt condolences.

The Class of 1948