Stephen Rudolph Steinke

November 26, 1948 ~ July 28, 2026

Stephen Rudolph Steinke, award winning magazine editor, author of computer networking books, and industry analyst died on July 28, 2026 of Parkinson's disease in Berkeley, California. He was known for his dry, understated wit, his incisive and analytical mind, and his generous and kind spirit.

Steve was born in Bloomington, Indiana on November 26, 1948, the oldest of five. The family lived in Columbus until their move to South Bend when he was 13 years old. He graduated from South Bend John Adams High School in 1966.  He attended the University of Denver where he studied philosophy until dropping out in the last semester of his senior year, completing the remaining credits for graduation years later.

In the spirit of the 60's, he hitchhiked throughout the country, sometimes earning scorn due to his shoulder length hair. In an effort to avoid the corporate world, he opened a bookstore with his life-long high school friend. With the bookstore finances as precarious as the wood and brick shelves, he moved to San Francisco in 1973 and remained in the progressive bay area culture all his life.

He began his writing and editing career in the early days of the personal computer business working as an editor for Computerland Magazine (a pioneering PC retailer with 800 stores) and went on to become Editor in Chief of Network Magazine at CMP Media. Under the 10 years of his direction, the magazine was revitalized and won numerous Maggie Awards for Best Computer/Trade Magazine and was also named the most improved magazine. He led a large staff, integrated another magazine into Network and closely mentored junior editors. He authored Guide to Managing PC Networks and wrote and edited three editions of an encyclopedic reference work, Network Tutorial. In the last six years before his retirement in 2011, he was a Director of Enterprise Research and an Industry Analyst for the 451 Group.

Steve met his beloved wife, Mary Krentz on the first day of Spring 1986 and they married exactly one year later on March 20, 1987. Their first date lasted 13 hours and involved an unsuccessful attempt to see Haley's Comet although it started a lasting and deep relationship. Their son, Nicholas, was born in 1988. Steve was a dedicated father to Nick with whom he shared his love of learning and of the outdoors. He organized a father/son group of Nick's elementary school friends that meet for monthly for craft projects and also went camping and backpacking.

An avid and life-long reader of philosophy, history and literature, he was logical, full of good arguments on both sides and dismayed by poorly constructed cases. He had a deep curiosity. Widely informed and knowledgeable, he was uniquely modest, full of equanimity but not vacillating in his ideas. He was good-natured and a democrat at heart.

He enjoyed film and in his 20's was member of a psychoanalytic film group of which the highlight was a visit by Jacques Derrida. He became interested in wine as a way of expanding his sensory experience and developed a respectable cellar. He backpacked throughout the Sierra taking Nick for the first time when he was two, and he loved cross-country skiing. He even managed to introduce Mary to birdwatching after 20 years of resistance. A world traveler, he enjoyed new experiences and cultures.

He had close and long-lasting friendships. He was deeply but quietly affective, liberal, pleased by new experiences and practices, loyal and at times, sweetly sentimental. He was unfailing generous, honorable, fair, and honest without being hurtful.

During the last few years of his life as Parkinson's disease limited many of his favorite activities, he was remarkably sanguine and philosophical as he stated, it involved a "continual recalibration of his pleasures".

In addition to his son, Steve is survived by his siblings Craig Steinke of Chiang Mai, Thailand; Mary Ann Moore, of Mishawaka, IN; and Keith Steinke, Edwardsburg, MI, eight nieces and nephews and a circle of good friends.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Aug. 4 to Aug. 9, 2026.

Added 08/04/2026 1455  GMS

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