Steve Phelan

The following tribute for Steve Phelan was written by his grandson, Matthew:

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My Papa Steve began a new journey and left this world on Monday, May 25, 2026. He was such a unique and special person. I loved him dearly, and I’ll always remember him for his wit, his gentleness, and his love of learning.

It’s interesting growing up in a “macho” kind of family. Four rough-and-tumble brothers, raised by a dad who didn’t put up with any BS and made it a priority to teach us how to be men. All the manly stuff: pouring concrete, yard work, fixing cars, roofing houses, putting up drywall, electrical work, wrestling, fighting, and all the other testosterone-riddled things young men get into.

But our dad’s dad was Papa Steve.

He just wasn’t interested in any of that. He had a different perspective on life. He showed me there are many ways to be a man.

Papa Steve was naturally one of the most inquisitive souls you’d ever meet. As a young Irish-American from New York, steeped in Catholic heritage, he found refuge in the Word of God. He entered seminary school at the age of 13 but later realized he wasn’t necessarily interested in becoming a priest; he was interested in the pursuit of knowledge itself. He once admitted to me, he had “read every book in the seminary library, even those in Latin and Greek.”

He went on to pursue higher education specializing in Old and Middle English philology and etymology, the study of language and word origins, and through that, a deeper study of civilization itself, especially how Western civilization transitioned from paganism to Christendom. He published scholarly studies on The Canterbury Tales, Yuletide traditions, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Beowulf, and even contributed to early computerized methods for analyzing ancient English texts, long before modern AI and language models existed.

Papa Steve was a true scholar in every sense of the word. He served as a professor at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, for over 40 years, along with academic work connected to Ohio State and Cornell. And his passion for learning led him down many more paths. He helped establish the environmental science department at Rollins College and participated in extensive environmental and legislative work in the Florida Everglades, helping preserve and study the state’s natural springs.

Personally, his love for nature may have had the deepest impact on me. Papa Steve showed me that tree hugging isn’t just for hippies. All of God’s children have an innate love for God’s creation.

Papa Steve especially loved birds. He could probably identify over a hundred species just by their songs. Every time I hear birdsong, I think of him.

Some of my core childhood memories are from canoeing and kayaking with him, whether in the crystal-clear spring waters of Florida or the rivers and swamps of South Carolina. I’ll also never forget our times in upstate New York, especially our watermelon races.

There were so many wonderful memories of being out in nature with Papa Steve, and those experiences fundamentally shaped who I am as a person. I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

Papa Steve also passed down his love for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Cardinals to our family. My first NFL game was with Papa Steve, my dad, and my brothers, watching the Bucs whoop up on the Panthers. And when I say “Go Bucs,” it’s always in my Papa Steve voice.

So I’ll miss you, Papa Steve. I’ll miss hearing your huge, hearty Phelan laugh. I’ll miss your kind words. I’ll miss playing basketball with you. I’ll miss our trips to see you and our walks in nature. I’ll miss your long cursive birthday letters.

And it stinks that you never got to meet your great-granddaughter before you went away. But the name you gave her, Evelyn “Bright Eyes,” is here to stay.

I know you’re in a better place now. I know you’re with my dad and Nana Jean, and I know you’re the best you’ve ever been.

Love you Papa Steve, thank you for everything ❤️

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Steve was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 50 years, Jean West, and his son, John.

He is survived by his children, Sean (Jobie) Phelan, Brian (Alyson) Phelan and Kathleen (JR) Holland; his stepchildren, Kim M. Klein and Thor A. MacKenzie; his daughter-in-law, Charlotte Phelan; and a large extended family.

In keeping with Steve’s wishes, there will be no public services. To share a memory with his family, please visit the guestbook below.