Tribute to Roger Steele

By Lanier Laney
Almost 300 people attended the Tribute to Roger Steele at the USCB Performing Arts Center last Saturday where six longtime friends shared different aspects of his life, dressed in costumes from Roger’s celebrated Valentine print series (he did a different self-portrait every year in costume). The fascinating series of self-portraits is on display for the rest of the month through mid September in the galleries at USCB. The six friends who shared touching and often funny remembrances were Dennis Davenport, Scott Graber, Tom Davis, Bob Allen, David Taub and Bob Morris. It was organized by Lee Logan. From the program: “Roger Steele was more than a professor of art, he was a champion of the Arts. More than a printmaker, he was a herald of the art form and a founding member of the Southern Graphics Council. More than an educator, he was a mentor of teachers. More than generous, he gave unselfishly of himself. …more than a friend in word, he was a friend in deed. Roger freely shared his gifts with us. The only way we can lose them is to forget him.”
Roger was a wonderful, generous, good humored person who will be greatly missed by the community and is survived by Cheryl Steele, his lovely wife. Roger was a favorite teacher at USCB for over 30 years; please support his legacy by sending donations to the University of South Carolina Beaufort, designating the Roger L. Steele Scholarship Fund, and mailed to USCB Development Office, One University Boulevard, Bluffton, SC 29909.Roger Steele