Stephen Robert Ober

On Monday, October 30, 2023, Stephen Robert Ober of Columbia, Maryland passed away following a struggle with cancer. Beloved husband of Ginni Alexander, he is survived by his daughter Jocelyn Hieatzman and son Jonathan, son-in-law John Hieatzman, daughter in-law Angela, and his two granddaughters, Molly and Claire.

Born September 4, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, Steve began his life as an Army brat and lived in many places in the states and Europe. He graduated from Kaiserslautern High School and went on to the University of Maryland in Munich and American College in Leysin, Switzerland. During these years, he enjoyed skiing, exploring cuisine (beers), sleeping on hay bales to watch the Grand Prix, discovering the music scene, and traveling throughout Europe. He landed in Oxford, Ohio, to attend Miami University where he made new friends and brothers as a member of ZBT Fraternity. He earned his BA in 1969.

An avid athlete, he developed his basketball skills on New York playgrounds and his schools. He was always ready for pickup ball at any given time or playground. He passed on his love for sports to his children who would accompany him to workouts, travel to his weekend games, as well as to see the Bullets, Orioles, Caps. et al.

He began working in International banking, bought and sold gold, and then moved to sales of copiers to computer hardware and software. His many travels in the work world ended at the State of Maryland Department of Labor where he served as a business resource representative. He enjoyed helping people most of all.

Steve will always be remembered for his gregarious manner, sense of humor, and love for family and friends. He loved his children and has instilled in them the love of learning, the importance of perseverance, the value of hard work and especially, laughter. These values continue as his granddaughters grow up.

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