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sA K Y
D eath
of a
H ero
A tragic accident claims the life
of social justice activist Charles Steele
by Inga Sorensen
Those credentials would bloat many a head,
here were occasions when Lake
Oswego resident Donna Saffir but not Chuck’s, say those who knew him.
“He was totally without pretense," Saffir
admittedly went off on those who
maligned gay and lesbian people. says.
Indeed. The Steeles seemed to enjoy life’s
“1 remember doing a radio pro basics: family, community and nature.
gram and someone called in and said, ‘Do you Materialism and attitude were not in the mix.
know, Donna, what your son does? Do you know
Steele was active in the National Audubon
about the unhealthy behaviors he engages in?’ ” Society and was a member of the Sierra Club.
recounts Saffir, who is president of the Portland
According to Bliss, the Steeles first met
chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of while on a Sierra Club backpacking trip in
Lesbians and Gays.
California. Their enthusiasm for the outdoors
“My immediate response was to slam down never faltered.
the phone. Those kinds of remarks could really
In 1987, the duo moved from Minnesota to
get me going,” she continues, with an easy Ashland, where they became immersed in com
laugh. “In the past, I responded with comments munity activities.
like: ‘Bigot...blah, blah, blah.’ "
When the string of anti-gay ballot initiatives
In the past, that is. Now Saffir is more likely was launched in Oregon beginning in 1988, the
to gently guide a person through a process that, Steeles—who have two lesbian daughters—
while rarely culminating in agreement, at least were out front working to extinguish anti-gay
resonates with the more fulfilling sense that sub ignorance, says Mitzi Henderson, a California
stantive dialogue has occurred—a sense that resident who has known the Steeles since 1986.
both sides were actually listening to one another.
“They were among the first to be out there
“Chuck had such enormous compassion, not
fighting,”
says
only for those in the gay
"To his family and friends,
Henderson, who was
and lesbian community,
national
PFLAG presi
but also for those who Chuck Steele undoubtedly was dent from 1992 to 1996.
didn’t understand homo a hero all the time. What they “They were courageous
sexuality,” she says. “The
and at the same time
way he could reach out may not be aware of is that he warm.
and connect
with special.
people WgS g /|e f0 fg f a re ; / gf gc fgg " Cherie Garland is the
was
very very
former president of
The way 1 respond is dif-
T
ferent because of his — /ro/n //re Ashland Daily ' Tidings
p"sue, Vall,cv PFLAp
** bhe has known the
example.
Saffir is referring to Ashland resident
Charles “Chuck” Steele, 73, who died April 17
when the camper van he was riding in rolled
over north of Medford. Steele’s wife of four
decades, Candace, was driving the vehicle. The
couple was headed to the coast to celebrate their
41st wedding anniversary. Candace, who was
injured in the accident, was released from the
hospital April 19.
The Steeles are known for their seemingly
tireless work on behalf of social justice issues,
including gay and lesbian causes.
Chuck Steele was active in, among others,
PFLAG, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers),
the Jackson County Human Rights Coalition
and the American Friends Service Committee.
He was an outspoken supporter of gay, lesbian
and bisexual rights and testified before several
local and state government committees, univer
sity forums and service clubs.
Those who knew the couple say Chuck and
Candace were near-perfect complements—she
being the more fevered and extroverted, while
he was the undertone who got things done with
a quiet grace and even temperament.
“He was a dear sweet man and very intelli
gent, and yet he didn’t possess a bit of arrogance,”
says Anne Bliss, a former Portland PFLAG presi
dent who has known the Steeles since 1993.
On paper, Charles Steele’s professional histo
ry is impressive. He served as a U.S. Army radio
technician during World War II. Following the
war, he earned advanced degrees in electrical
engineering from the University of Illinois and
in computer science from Stanford University.
He published numerous technical papers and
is the author of Numerical Computation of Electric
and Magnetic Fields, a reference volume for pro
fessionals. He was a member of the Magnetic
Society, Eta Kappa Nu, an honorary electrical
engineering society, and a lifetime member of
the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers.
Steeles for nearly a decade and says Chuck had
a “fire in the belly” when it came to gay issues.
“But it wasn’t a fire that would singe the hair
off your head,” she tells Just Out. “It was a par
ticular determination. He was a very gentle,
patient man who could sit and talk for hours if
that’s what it took.”
Garland also describes Chuck and Candace
as “a real team.”
“She had a presence and was outspoken,”
Garland says. “Chuck was more in the back
ground but was always there with her and ready
with wisdom.”
In an April 21 editorial, the Ashland Daily
Tidings ran a piece headlined “Farewell to a
hero.”
It read, in part: “Ashland lost a hero last
week.... If a hero is someone who can be count
ed upon to seek justice and fairness for all, then
Chuck Steele’s role in PFLAG...was a hero
making part.
“The father of two lesbian daughters, Chuck
was an outspoken supporter of gay rights and was
an active, public participant in PFLAG, march
ing in parades and acting as a spokesperson....
“To his family and friends, Chuck Steele
undoubtedly was a hero all the time. What they
may not be aware of is that he was a hero to the
rest of us, too. Our condolences and best wishes
go out to his family today."
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include
three daughters: Danae Steele of University
Place, Wash.; Heidi Steele of San Francisco;
Heather Steele of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and a
grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays,
l ¡01 14th St. NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC
20005; Rogue Valley Monthly Meeting of Religious
Society of Friends, PO Box 779, Ashland, OR
97520; the Nature Conservancy, 1815 N Lynn
St., Arlington, VA 22209.
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