Steven "Steve" Neal

In Loving Memory of Steve Neal

August 30th, 2025

On August 30th, my dad Steve Neal left this world. He was a magnificent contradiction: brilliant and bookish, funny and charming, a rebel and contrarian at heart. Mental health struggles shadowed him throughout his life and limited his potential, yet he remained unforgettable to everyone who knew him.

Steve was the only biological son of William “Billy” Neal and Beverly “Babs” Neal. He spent most of his childhood in Ohio and Wyoming. Born into a ranching family, he was ironically allergic to horses, yet he still managed to be a naturally good rider with a confident seat, even though he was not on horseback often.

He was relentless in his teasing. People often either loved him or hated him because he could push buttons faster than most people could form a first impression. Some classic memories that capture his humor and personality:

• Within minutes of meeting my aunt on my mom’s side, he had antagonized her so much that she tried to kick him.• At my high school graduation in the Arizona heat, with temperatures over 100 degrees, he laid down on the lawn making “snow angels” and shouting, “Yay, no more child support.”• Once, I found IDs of his with different names. For years, I wondered if he secretly worked for the CIA.• When I was young, he convinced me that a wolf lived under my bed waiting for me to fall asleep. I was terrified and would pray for the wolf each night instead of sleeping in my room.

Many people have described him as a magnificent character, and that description fits him well.

As I go through his things now, I am reminded again of how complicated and layered he was. He struggled mightily with depression and spent years trying to get help. I can now see that clearly in the documentation he left behind. We always knew he was incredibly smart, but finding his Mensa invitation and his MCAT and LSAT scores, which ranked in the top 4 percent and top 1 percent, shows just how exceptional he truly was.

Our relationship was complicated, but in recent years we found more honesty, more peace, and more connection. I am grateful that Fate got to know her “Poppy Man,” and that I had the chance to know him more deeply too.

Steve chose to be cremated, and he did not make any mention or preparations for a funeral or service. He has already been cremated, and our family hopes to take him home to rest to Wyoming in the near future. 

Steve is survived by me, his daughter Radiance Neal, as well as by his granddaughter Fate, his longtime partner and best friend Janet Kateb, his stepdaughter Taylor and her son Mason, and many other family members and friends who loved him.

If you knew Steve and loved him, please share a favorite memory, story, or photo. Our family finds comfort in the memories we hold.