Stephen C. Carlson ’73

Steve died Sept. 21, 2021, after a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy. He was 70.

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Steve attended Princeton upon graduation from Lake Forest (Ill.) High School. At Princeton he was a member of Terrace Club and the Debate Panel, and president of Whig-Clio. Steve met his wife, Patricia Brown Carlson ’75, through Whig-Clio. Professor Melvin Tumin provided Steve with invaluable guidance and wisdom as Steve wrote his thesis on the topic of civil disobedience. He graduated magna cum laude with election to Phi Beta Kappa. Steve credited his high school teachers and college professors with igniting his lifelong interests in ancient Greece, Shakespeare, and poetry. 

Steve graduated from Yale Law School in 1976 and practiced law in Chicago at Sidley Austin for nearly 40 years, becoming partner in 1983. While he loved his work, Steve found his greatest joy in his family and raising three daughters with his cherished wife, Patricia.

Deeply philosophical and reflective, Steve wrote, “If we can make life better for others, that is really probably all we accomplish and is more than enough. If you have succeeded in making life better for anyone else because you were here, then you have lived a good life.” Steve lived a good life.

Steve is survived by Patricia; daughters Elizabeth ’04 and her husband Mark Wolicki, Susan and her husband Robert Demke, and Julie and her husband Matt Nedostup; and four grandchildren.