John David Stepleton

John was born April 28, 1966 in Albuquerque to Frank “Skip” and Sandra Stepleton.

He died suddenly of natural but unknown causes on May 12, 2022. As a proud Matador, he played football at Sandia High School (Class of 1984) and maintained friendships with teammates through life. He obtained a business degree from the UNM Anderson School of Management and went to seek his fortune in Portland, Oregon where he lived for 30 years.

He married Diana Friedman and has two beautiful and brilliant children. His son, Miles Stepleton is just finishing graduate school at the University of Washington in Seattle, and Olivia Stepleton is going to school at Portland State. He loved his children very much and was so proud of them. He was brother to his sisters, Cynthia “Cince” Stepleton and Bonnie Stepleton of Albuquerque.

John was an entrepreneur and started Research Data Design. Over his life, he had many other business ventures and was a member of Young Entrepreneurs Organization Inc. He was a creative risk taker and inspired many with his encouragement and coaching.

John was a world traveler and talented photographer. He started an Instagram page with photos he took over the years and most recently on a winter adventure in Colombia and Ecuador. His favorite subjects included nature, people and his beloved dog, Rheagan.

He was living his best life at the family cabin at Electra Lake, Colorado, which he liked to call “the most beautiful place on ear th.” It was a lifelong dream to be there year-round and live in quiet beauty. He made many good friends in Durango through his work at the Bear Bar in Purgatory and at the lake with Bob, and our dear neighbors, the Barnards.

A memorial will be held Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Electra Lake Clubhouse with a reception at the family cabin immediately afterwards.