Stephen Judd King

Steve was born to Robert Cotterill and Ruth McKeown King on December 23, 1931 in White Plains, NY. He had one older brother, Peter. His family lived in Utica, NY, and he graduated from Utica Free Academy High School in 1950. While in high school he played on the football team and an intramural hockey team.

After High School Steve attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY where he was part of the ROTC program and received his B.A. in Business Administration. While at St. Lawrence he also played intramural hockey until he broke his collarbone and became the hockey team manager. After graduation in 1954 he went into the U.S. Air Force serving as a Lieutenant for 4 years. In April 1956, while still in the Air Force he traveled to Sacramento, California as best man at the wedding of his friend, and met his future wife, Bette, who was there as a friend of the bride. He and Bette knew each other only 3 months before they got married themselves.

On June 30, 1956 Steve exchanged wedding vows with Bette Pauls at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. The following year their first son, Stephen was born while they were living in Salina, Kansas at Schilling Air Force Base. In 1958 they moved to Syracuse, NY where their daughter Melissa was born. Steve earned his MBA degree with a specialization in Finance from Syracuse University in 1959. Steve also continued to serve his country as a Captain in the Air National Guard until 1973.

In 1961, they were living in Columbus, Ohio when their second son, David was born. The family eventually settled in Mt. Kisco, NY where they lived until 1967 and Steve began his 30 year career working for IBN as a financial analyst. Steve coached Little League baseball for several years while living in Mt Kisco. In September 1967 the King family bought a new Chevy Impala convertible and drove across the country to their new home in San Jose, California.

After being transferred to San Jose, California by IBM, Steve began to play golf regularly with Bette and learned to love the game. In 1979 they joined Almaden Country Club and remained members for over 30 years. Steve and Bette enjoyed traveling and visited such places as Europe, Scotland, Ireland, a cruise from Florida to California through the Panama Canal, an Alaskan Cruise, and numerous trips to Canada including Whistler, Victoria B.C., Banff and Lake Louise. Many of their vacations centered around golfing at different golf courses throughout the world.

As Steve’s children grew to be adults they blessed him with six grandchildren, Nicholas, Robert, Dan, Steven, Sarah and Daniel. Steve was also blessed with six great grandchildren.

Steve passed away on May 29, 2015 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California. Steve was preceded in death by his wife Bette, and survived by his son Stephen King II (and his wife Sandy) of Colorado, son David King of San Jose, his daughter Melissa Riqueros (and her husband Rod) of San Jose, his grandchildren: Nicholas Riqueros of San Jose, Robert Safford of Bend, OR, Dan Safford of Colorado, Steven Safford of Colorado, Sarah Riqueros-Campbell of San Jose and Daniel Riqueros of San Jose and by six great-grandchildren.

Services for Steve were held on June 12, 2015 at Oka Hill Memorial Park, Chapel of the Roses.