August 31, 1959 – May 2, 2025
Stephen Michael Sinchek passed peacefully on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio after fighting hard to recover from an unexpected bicycle/vehicular accident 3 months prior.
Steve grew up in Reading, Ohio and graduated from Reading High School in 1977. He then attended The Ohio State University, and earned a degree in Early Elementary Education. Steve moved to California to work as a kindergarten teacher. Prior to teaching, he held down multiple jobs such as a lifeguard, golf caddy, camp counselor, and swim department director at Fort Scott Camp. In addition to teaching, Steve was involved in wine sales and service industry work, and found his passion in the restaurant business. He was a great cook, outstanding server, and gifted manager. Steve served the first of many beers at Gordon Biersch, and opened several other locations. He took pride in opening a number of other restaurants; his biggest successes being the owner of The Old Pro from 1994-2022 in Palo Alto, CA and founder of both Local Union 271 in Palo Alto, CA and The 239 in Naples, FL.
Steve truly loved being involved in his children’s lives, coaching Nick’s little league youth baseball teams and Katie’s softball games, and enjoying family camping trips to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. He was incredibly proud of Katie and Nick for being such loving, thoughtful, hard working, dedicated adults, and for following their passions – Katie completing medical school to become a doctor and Nick in natural resources & environmental management.
Steve was a one-of-a-kind friend to so many. He was extremely witty, endlessly fun, adventurous, and incredibly generous to those around him. Steve loved the outdoors – watching sunsets, bicycling, mountain adventures, and water sports. He enjoyed great food and wine, attending sporting events, making people happy, working hard, and playing even harder with family and friends. He loved a great party and dancing to Motown. He led many Limbo and Conga lines, and was usually the one to initiate a Soul Train Line dance. Steve has touched many people in his life with laughter, service, and friendship. He will be greatly missed by so many.
Steve is survived by his children, Katie (Jacky) and Nick; their loving mother, Sheri; his sister, Cathy; his brothers, Joe and Andy (Roxann); 15 nieces and nephews, and 12 great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Kathleen; his sister, Patricia (Jim), and his brother, Michael (Teresa).
Plans for a Celebration of Life are pending.