Stephen D. Houck ’69

Distinguished attorney, co-founder of Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) and board member from 1996 until his death, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Steve passed away April 12, 2021, after a courageous battle with leukemia. 

Steve joined our class from Lewistown (Pa.) Granville High School, where he was senior class president. At Princeton he was a politics major, took part in CJL/Hillel, Trenton Tutorial, and Whig-Clio, and was a Keyceptor. Steve was a member of Cloister Inn and Wilson College and senior year lived with Jim Gregoire, Steve Thacker, David Slack, and Tom Martin ’70 in 1937 Hall. 

Following Harvard Law, Steve built a career as an expert on antitrust law and as a seasoned commercial litigator. He was a partner in Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine, then served as chief of the antitrust bureau in the New York State attorney general’s office. From 2005 to 2020 he was executive director of the State Center, which helps state attorneys general do a better job enforcing antitrust and consumer-protection laws. 

Steve was noted for his kind and soft-spoken manner, and at the same time his incisive and intelligent comments. When he spoke, whether as an attorney or as a PICS board member, everyone appreciated his wisdom and listened with respect. 

All of us in ’69 extend our heartfelt sympathy to Steve’s wife, Toni; his daughters, Rebecca and Abigail; his grandchildren, Caroline, Lucy, and Noah; his brother, Richard ’71; and all his extended family.