Stephen Edwin DeVoe

Stephen Edwin DeVoe came into this world on August 19, 1935, and left it on November 13, 2023, at the age of 88.  He was the youngest of the three sons of Leslie Morrison and Edna Schulz DeVoe.  His brothers Chuck and John led the way, and they were an active trio, playing football, basketball, baseball and tennis in high school.  All three went on to attend Princeton University and continued playing tennis and basketball.

On June 13, 1959, after a 3-year courtship, Steve married Mary Charlotte Ochsner. They had 64 wonderful years together.  They were blessed with three children: Curt (Lynn), Chuck (Jill Perry) and Julie (Cory Scott).  Later they were further blessed with seven grandchildren:  Emily, Conner, Leslie, Tanner, Claire, Charlotte, and Harper and three great grandchildren: Kate, Alex, and Mary Charlotte.  Steve was a loving mentor and counselor to his children and a fun-loving and devoted grandfather.  He delighted in planning fun and interesting adventures for and with them. He was adored by all of them.

Steve was a 1953 graduate of Park School and received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University in 1957 and was on the varsity basketball team there.   Shortly after Steve and Mary were married, he decided to go to law school at night while also working full-time as a manufacturer’s representative.  Six years and two children later he graduated from IU Indianapolis School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree and was named to The Order of the Coif and was an editor of the Law Journal.

While Steve was at Princeton, he was in the Army ROTC.  After graduation he spent six months of active duty in the field artillery at Ft. Sill, OK and several more years in the National Guard, eventually attaining the rank of captain.

Steve had the good fortune to work with people he admired and respected.  He worked with his father and brother Chuck in the L.M. DeVoe Company as representatives of electronics companies for several years.  He was a partner with his mentor Gene Henderson in the law firm Henderson, Daily, Withrow and DeVoe.  After his brother John’s untimely death in 1968 he became the president of the Indianapolis Racquet Club and guided its operations in close cooperation with Ed Brune until 2016.  In 1992 and 1993, Steve served as Director of Professional Tennis for the US Tennis Association where he oversaw Davis Cup competition and the US Open Tennis Championships in New York City.  At the end of his working life, he was Of Counsel at Bose McKinney and Evans.

Steve was active in the community.  He joined with his brothers, John and Chuck, and other community investors to found the Indiana Pacers of the new American Basketball Association in 1967.  They also built the Indianapolis Racquet Club at that same time.   He was a long-time member and chairman of the board of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; served several terms on the Vestry and was Senior Warden of Trinity Episcopal Church; was former Tournament Director of the Indianapolis Hard Court Tennis Championships; was former president of the Woodstock Club; helped establish the Dayspring Center; and was a board member of the Indiana Museum of Transportation in Noblesville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Chuck and John, and an infant daughter.

A memorial service is planned at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3243 N. Meridian Street, on Friday, December 29^th at 11:00 a.m.  Following the service, a reception will be held at Woodstock Club.

We extend our gratitude to the caretakers at Senior Home Companions, Story Cottage, Brookdale Carmel and Traditions Health.

The family suggests that any memorial contributions be made to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra or Dayspring Center.