Stephen Strong Townsend, Jr.
March 11, 1944 - May 24, 2018
Stephen Strong Townsend, Jr., born on March 11, 1944, passed away on May 24, 2018, at his home in Sonoma, California, following a long battle with Parkinson’s he endured bravely and with grace.
He grew up in Piedmont, California, raised there by parents, Margery Bronson Townsend and Stephen Strong Townsend, Sr. He attended Piedmont High School and the University of California at Berkeley. He later attended the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, earning a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture which laid the groundwork, so to speak, for a lifelong involvement in many aspects of real estate. His last job was with Pecos Ventures, a real estate development firm, which he helped create with partners.
In the late 1980’s, Steve pivoted and took on the job for several years as executive director of the nonprofit in San Francisco, Youth At Risk, dedicated to finding opportunities and helping kids who deserved a chance that was not being fulfilled elsewhere.
In 1982 Steve met the love of his life, Cia Whitman Townsend, who had established herself as a well-known and successful real estate agent in the City. They married in 1985 and continued their lives together in San Francisco. Steve adopted Cia’s young son, John, and the nuclear family was complete.
Steve and Cia each already knew and had made friends with countless wonderful people in and around San Francisco – to the point where the merger of their sprawling social lives all but required approval from the Justice Department. They were constantly entertaining family, old friends, new friends, business associates, out-of-towners, holiday orphans, and others, all welcome.
Steve particularly loved his time at Lake Tahoe at his home near Tahoe City – hiking, boating, and relaxing with friends and family. His love of “Big Water” didn’t end there. He was a decades-long member of the Dolphin Club in the City where each day he relished the invigorating swim in the Bay and the friends he made there.
Those who knew and loved Steve understood that conquering the world and collecting titles and memberships do not make the man. Genuine character – that’s deep and abiding, that truly touches others – is what matters. Steve was wildly original, disarmingly funny, charming, bright, always surprising, and tirelessly caring of others.
He is survived by his wife, Lucia Whitman Townsend; his son, John Loomis Townsend (Katie) of San Francisco; by his stepson Michael Jones (Marin) of San Mateo; and by five brothers and sisters: Suzanne Townsend Finney (Jack) of Newport Beach; James B. Townsend of Orinda; Lawrence G. Townsend (Lisa) of San Rafael; Mary Claire Townsend (Ron Pires) of Round Mountain; and Michael A. Townsend (Amy) of Los Angeles. He is survived by four grandchildren, Parker Strong Townsend of San Francisco and Abby Jones, Elly Jones, and Maddy Jones of San Mateo.
Cia and the family are particularly grateful to Emely Bernardez, his caregiver who made such a difference when the challenges were greatest. Memorial services will be held at noon on June 21 at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church. Contributions may be sent to the Gladstone Institute https://gladstone. org/ or any charity of the donor’s choice.