Ronald Steele

Ronald A. Steele, age 62, of Erie, passed away on Friday, October 14, 2016 at UPMC Hamot. He was born on May 6, 1954 in Erie, a son of Cornelia and the late Hugh Steele.

Ron graduated from Strong Vincent High School in 1972 and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977.

Mr. Steele was the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC). He began his service at GECAC in 1985 as a member of the Board of Directors. In 1993, Mr. Steele was honored with the J. Robert Baldwin Director of the Year Award, and served as the Chairman of the GECAC Board of Directors from 1998 to 2004.

Ron began his position as C.E.O. in August 2004 after twenty-four years of service as an employee of Erie County. From 1980 to 1994, Mr. Steele served as a Juvenile Probation Officer, being responsible for the supervision of juvenile offenders in the Juvenile Court System. In January of 1994, Mr. Steele was hired as the first minority Public Defender Detective in Erie County, providing criminal investigations and assisting in criminal defense of clients until August 2004.

Mr. Steele is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Kappa Chapter and served on many boards in the Erie area including the Erie Community Foundation Board, the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership, Hamot Board of Corporators, Sarah Reed Children’s Center, the Robert Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Council of Trustees, and the Pennsylvania Association of Council of Trustees. Mr. Steele was also a member of the Rotary Club of Erie and of the Erie Club. He was a former member of Mercyhurst University President’s Associates and the Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board of Directors.

He was the recipient of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Hall of Fame Award in 1985, Erie County Bar Association “Liberty Bell” Award in 2000, a Congressional Certification of Recognition in 2001 by Congressman Phil English and the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania’s Martin Luther King Award in 2007, as well as numerous other recognitions.

Ron was very caring and compassionate which was evident by the work he did in the Erie Community. He loved helping people of all ages. Ron loved to golf and was a member of the Brothers Linked Together Golf League and was an avid San Francisco 49ers fan.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 21 years, Barbara A. Steele; his siblings Tommy H. (Cheryl C.) Steele of Erie, Cathy Steele of Anaheim CA, and Ricky (Patricia) Steele of Erie; his nieces and nephews: Erica and Traci Woodard, Ernest Hemmings, Angela, Thomas, Nicole, and Richard Steele. He is further survived by his special cousin Homer “Bo” Young of Erie, and a host of great nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on the family on Wednesday October 19th from 9am until the time of the service at Noon at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507. Bishop Curtis Jones Sr. will preside over the service. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Burton Funeral Homes and Crematory, 602 West 10th St., Erie.

Memorials may be made to the Wiley Osborne Scholarship Fund, GECAC, 18 W. 9th St., Erie, PA 16501.

Send condolences at www.BurtonFuneralHome.com