A popular partner in the general medical practice of Dr Manny Silver in Newcastle upon Tyne, Dr Stephen Steel, who has died of cancer aged 82, worked tirelessly with his late wife Sheila, for Newcastle’s Jewish community. As treasurer for the former Gosforth and Kenton Synagogue, aided by Sheila, who was a stalwart of both Gosforth and Kenton and then the United Hebrew Congregation of Newcastle’s Ladies Guilds, together they innovated the modern equipment which was greatly needed by the synagogues at the time.
Born Stephan Sigfried Steppacher in Ichenhausen, outside Munich, his parents, Freda and Willy, fled Germany in 1938 along with his younger brother Frank and other family members, and started a new life in North Shields. It was there his sister Helen was born.
He was barmitzvah in Whitley Bay Shul close to the sea front and opposite a famous landmark building, the Spanish City. and in his early teens the family moved to Oakfield Road in Newcastle.
Granted an interview to read medicine at The Medical School, now part of Newcastle University, he was asked by the Dean –”What other interests do you have?” Stephen replied: “I am a member of Newcastle Young Zionists.”
“That’s very impressive said the Dean, I never even knew there was a Newcastle branch of the Young Scientists.” He gained his place.
He married his first wife Sheila Forman in 1960 at Leazes Park Road Synagogue and lived in Gosforth where their three children were born, but after 36 years of marriage, in October 1996, Sheila died. Stephen received great support from his family and friends in the community, but he was bereft. In 1998 he married his second wife Leila.
In 2014, they decided to move to Borehamwood to be nearer to their family.
Stephen saw his first granddaughter married and was particularly delighted that his younger daughter Melissa’s two sons, Sam and Joe, are following in his footsteps by studying medicine. He is survived by his children Richard, Carolyn and Melissa, their partners and ten grandchildren, his brother Frank and sister Helen.
FAGA SPEKER
