Steven Pate

Steven Allen Pate, formerly of Arlington, Virginia, passed away peacefully, with family members present, at Southwest Christian Care in Union City, Georgia on June 24, 2023.

He was born February 6, 1953, in Bowling Green, Kentucky and was the son of the late Retired Col. Robert Ira Pate and Meada G. Rodgers Pate.

He is also preceded in death by his brother, Michael Pate of North Carolina.

Steve was an accomplished historian and received a PhD from MIT in both Mathematics and Linguistics (the study of human speech including the units, nature, structure, and modification of language). He served in Executive positions at Ingram Books; as well as Barnes and Noble, where he met several authors and dignitaries.

He was also a professor at Vanderbilt University for a short time, where he taught Business Analytics.

Steve was a world traveler, giving lectures in other countries until his medical condition limited his travel to the Washington and Arlington areas.

He belonged to several fraternities and was a known philanthropist with generous contributions to non-profit organizations and those in need, wherever he lived. While he never watched or owned a television or listened to a radio, his greatest passion was reading and writing. This was evidenced by his massive collection of books! He was intrigued by writing about the possibilities of other life forms and colonies in the universe.

Steve was loved by all that knew him, and his generous, selfless spirit will be missed by all. He is survived by his step-brother Jay (Kay) Embrey, his step-sister Claudia (Taisha) Makaike, and his sister-in-law Phyllis Pate, as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.

Steve wished for his body to be donated to the advancement of science at the George Washington School of Medicine; however, his recent illness made him ineligible. The family is asking in lieu of flowers that donations be made in his name to the facility that cared for him so lovingly in his final days. More information can be found at www.swchristiancare.org – Southwest Christian Care, 7225 Lester Road; Union City, HGA 30291.