Richard A. Steeves

Richard A. Steeves passed away on April 20, 2025, at home in Madison, WI.

He was born on Feb. 2, 1938, to William and Doris Steeves in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Richard was educated in London, Canada, where he received his M.D. at the University of Western Ontario. After interning at the Montreal General Hospital, he obtained a Ph.D. in medical biophysics at the University of Toronto in 1966. While studying in Toronto he met Elyane Brunet, whom he married in 1965. Sons Pascal and Colin were born while they still resided in Canada. In 1972 Richard’s research into the genetics of mouse leukemia took the family to New York City, where daughter, Rachel, was born. After specialty training in radiation oncology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Richard and family moved to Madison in 1980. Richard joined the faculty of Human Oncology at the University of Wisconsin and remained as emeritus professor.

Richard traveled widely and cared deeply about the environment. He promoted the use of carbon-free sources of energy, especially nuclear fission (as explained at https://rethinkingnuclear.org). He served on the board of the International Crane Foundation for 12 years and led the “Pathways to a Sustainable Planet” discussion group for the University’s Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization for 14 years. Additionally, Richard was a pilot and built an amphibious airplane, the “Coot”, wrote a newsletter for fellow Coot-builders and was involved with the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, WI. With his passion for the environment and clean energy, he later switched to an electric ultralight airplane.

Richard is survived by his wife, Elyane Steeves, their children, Pascal, Colin and Rachel, and by his grandchildren, Justin, Avery and Morgan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the International Crane Foundation or Ocean Conservancy.

A memorial service will be held on May 5, 2025, at 11:30 am at Cress Funeral and Cremation Service, 6021 University Ave. Visitation will be held from 10:30 am until the time of service.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406