Steven Frank McBride

Steve was born on May 30th, 1952 to Emma Pearl McBride (née Bachus) and Frank Junior McBride in Salina, Kansas. The oldest of four siblings, he spent his childhood playing with his two brothers and sister and tearing down barns with his father to upcycle for woodworking. Steve was a bright and inquisitive child who loved to learn. He was an avid reader and collector of coins and stamps; interests that stayed with him throughout his life.

Steve attended Salina High School, where he was a member of the Russian Club and received a National Merit Letter of Commendation. He graduated in 1970 and went on to earn a BA in Psychology from the University of Kansas in 1975, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

After college, Steve was practicing as a Psychiatric Aid at the University of Kansas Medical Center when he met the love of his life, Jana (née Grayson) McBride. They connected over a shared love of music and Kansas City Royals baseball games. When Steve relocated to San Diego for a Master's Program, his beautifully written letters convinced Jana to move to California to live with him.

After earning his Masters in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in 1978, Steve began working as a Special Agent for the Federal Government.. He and Jana married on September 27th, 1980 in small backyard ceremony surrounded by family and friends. Steve and Jana loved hiking, camping and exploring California.

Steve and Jana welcomed a daughter, Tess McBride, in September 1984. He was a fun, loving and creative father; never at a loss when it came to telling stories, making up games based on Tess' evolving interests and always showing his love for his daughter, who he called "Junior."

The family relocated to Portland, Oregon in July 1985, and moved into a house in Laurelhurst that Steve and Jana would share until his death. As a family, weekends were spent hiking, picnicking, traveling around Oregon and going to wineries. Steve's incredible knowledge of wine was something many remember him by. He was generous, and he loved sharing his best bottles with his family and friends often paired with one of his many signature dishes. Steve was an exceptional chef, designing his own recipes and taking joy in preparing them for his loved ones.

Steve retired from the Department of Investigative Services as a Special Agent in 2013 after a 30+ year devoted career where he held dual credentials as a Background Investigator and Industrial Security Specialist. He was a dedicated and hardworking agent, where he was known for his integrity and commitment to truth.

Steve and Jana were lucky enough to spend their retirement years in what Steve deemed, "the best of Oregon plan," splitting time between Portland, Central Oregon and the Oregon Coast. Steve also served as the Chairperson of the Board for five years at their condo association in Bend. Retirement was also filled with many of his life-long interests. A talented musician, Steve enjoyed playing the piano and did so beautifully. Mornings were dedicated to listening to classical music followed by jazz in the evenings. He also loved reading and listening to books, and was an active patron of his local libraries. Steve and Jana enjoyed traveling around world, some of their most memorable destinations being Italy, France and Germany.

Steve became a grandfather in 2019 to Harrison Welch-McBride and again in 2022 to August Welch-McBride. The imaginative games he made up as a father in his thirties reappeared with the same vigor and silliness in his sixties. He loved watching his grandsons grow and learn, and they adored playing with their "Papa."

Beyond his life story and accomplishments, Steve's family will always remember him for the truly kind, caring and dedicated man he was throughout his life. He did what he thought was right, even if it was the hard thing to do. He was unassumingly hilarious and loved to laugh. He was fiercely reliable and was never intimidated by expressing his love for his family. He said "I love you" every day and in a way that didn't feel routine, but sincere. Every hug was big, every laugh was genuine and he frequently spoke of how lucky he knew he was living his life how and with those who made him the happiest.

Steve died suddenly after suffering a cardiac event on Sunday August 27th, 2023 -- ten years to the day after the passing of his mother. He is survived (and will be deeply missed) by his wife of 43 years, Jana Grayson McBride; daughter, Tess (Paul Welch) McBride; grandsons, Harrison Welch-McBride, August Welch-McBride; siblings, Susan (Patrick) Pike and Mark (Beata) McBride.

Donations in Steve's honor can be made to Friends of the Multnomah County Library (https://www.friends-library.org/donate) or All Classical Radio (https://www.allclassical.org/donate/), both of which enhanced Steve's life on a daily basis.