Birth: October 24th, 1937

Death: May 13th, 2024

F. Quinn Stepan OBITUARY

The world lost an extraordinary man on May 13, 2024. F. Quinn Stepan died peacefully in his home of 60 years.

The beloved husband of the late Jean “Snowy” Stepan (nee Finn) and devoted son of the late Alfred Charles and Mary Louise Stepan lived his life for others. Quinn Stepan had many passions, his first was his love for his wife, Snowy. They were married for 63 years and raised eight children.

He was the loving father of Jeanne (Rob) Schoder, Quinn (Debbie) Stepan Jr., Jennifer (Jim) Beqaj, Lisa (Tim) Hackett, Colleen (Jay) Tulimieri, Alfred (Candice) Stepan and Richard (Heather) Stepan and the late Todd Stepan. Cherished grandfather of Theresa (Joe) Stepan Dumais, Meghann (John) Stepan Kelly, Quinn P. Stepan, Robby (Taylor) Schoder, Mari Schoder, Scott (Mary) Schoder, Charlie Schoder and the late Michael Schoder, Jack, Sam, and Sarah Beqaj, Grace, Francie, Timmy, and Johnny Hackett, Quinn, Jeanne, Libby, and Jack Tulimieri, Spencer Stepan, and Haley, Finn, and Brenna Stepan. He also was blessed to be the fond great grandfather of Olivia, Hudson and Miles Schoder, Faye and Scott Schoder, Colin, Katelyn, Lilly and Andrew Dumais, Mac, Step, Walt and Rhetta Kelly, and Quinn H. Stepan.

Quinn Stepan was born in 1937 in the middle of an economic recession, the tough times would influence his lifestyle choices. He was the third child of Alfred and Mary Louise. He was a proud member of the Winnetka Stepan family with four brothers and two sisters. He grew-up on the Village Green, sitting on the cannon, running in the Fourth of July races and swimming in Maple Street Beach.

Quinn and Snowy Stepan hosted the extended family for the Turkey Bowl and Thanksgiving for more than 100 people, for four decades. Traditions were important to Quinn, he believed that gatherings created the opportunity to build connections and strengthen bonds between people. Quinn was the dear brother of Stratford (Judy) Stepan, Charlotte (Jim) Stepan Shea and John (Bonnie) Stepan and Brother-in-law to Richard Wehman and sister-in-law to Nancy Leys Stepan. His sister Marilee Stepan Wehman and sister-in-law Ann Ruppe Stepan, brothers Alfred Stepan and Paul Stepan predeceased him.

Quinn attended Faith, Hope and Charity, Loyola Academy, and then the University of Notre Dame. He cultivated life long friendships across each of these institutions. After Notre Dame, he served in the Army and moved with his young family to Michigan, Texas and New Jersey. Eventually they found their way back to Winnetka, earning an MBA at the University of Chicago, residing in the shadow of Faith Hope for the last 60 years.

He loved Winnetka and Lake Michigan. Quinn never forgot the foundation of his Catholic education and he firmly believed in its importance. He would serve as the Chairman of the Board for both Loyola Academy and Woodlands Academy. He spent decades on the Notre Dame Liberal Art Council and was an ardent supporter of Big Shoulders and the Stepan Scholars program at the Our Lady of Grace parochial school. He believed Catholic education was important to build people of good character and sound mind. He definitely valued a liberal arts background, he said it was important for students to develop their thinking and writing skills. He funded the Stepan Economic Chair at Notre Dame to coax the best professors to stay in the College of Arts & Letters instead of decamping to the Business Schools.

He shared his leadership and management skills tirelessly to help these institutions flourish.

Quinn Stepan will also be remembered for the company he lead. His Team took the company his father founded in 1932 and made it a global powerhouse. When Quinn joined Stepan Company in 1961, net sales were $17.3 million and net income was $1.3 million with 3 domestic industrial plants. Today, it is a global company with 22 plants in 12 countries with 2 billion dollars in sales that employs more than 2400 people.

He loved going to work everyday at Stepan. He built a culture of idea sharing, congeniality and excellence. He ate lunch in the company cafeteria so he could visit with the troops. He was recognized as an industry leader and was honored with the Elva Walker Spillane Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

Family will always be the greatest legacy of Quinn Stepan. His family was his top priority. He loved everyone, he cared deeply about their well-being, their education, their futures and their passions. He was the catalyst for incredible family events – holiday celebrations, travel escapades that included European and American driving tours, Mediterranean boat cruises, golf outings, ski trips, Olympic experiences, African safaris, early trips to India and China. He wanted to share the joys of travel with others and wanted to create a wonder for the vastness of the world.

He chronicled all these good times – the games he attended, the beautiful places visited, graduations, baptisms etc.… It was not uncommon for relatives to be jockeying for position on his photo shelves. He loved his photos and being surrounded by the smiles and love of the family he had built. He was dedicated, steadfast and resolute. We knew that we always had a cheerleader in our corner. It is these memories that will provide comfort. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Hopefully, all can take the lessons of Quinn’s well lived life and move forward to be the catalyst for change to make our world a little better.

Visitation Thursday, May 16, 2024, 10:00 a.m. CDT at Saints Faith, Hope & Charity Church, 191 Linden Street, Winnetka, IL 60093, it will immediately be followed by a 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass. To virtually attend the funeral Mass, visit F. Quinn Stepan’s obituary page on donnellanfuneral.com to access the link to the live streaming. The family invites you to a reception immediately following Mass in the Saints Faith Hope & Charity Parish Hall. Interment private All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either: Big Shoulders Fund. Info: donnellanfuneral.com or 847-675-1990