John Steggles

John C. Steggles

Friends and family are mourning the loss of John Steggles, who died at his home on August 28, 2009. His goal of celebrating his 90th birthday occurred just one week ago, and he did so surrounded by his family and well-wishers at a party at Oak Harbor.

John Charles Steggles, was born in Larling, Norfolk, England on August 21, 1919, the son of Ernest and Annie Steggles. A graduate of the British Army Staff College, he was a captain in the Royal Artillery (1939-46) during World War II and served with intelligence staff in India and Ceylon.

John was employed by Alexander Howden & Company, Ltd. in London until 1950 when he took a position with General Reinsurance Company in New York. John and his late wife Pamela, whom he married in 1945, raised their family in Montclair, New Jersey; he became a U.S. citizen in 1959. When he retired from General Reinsurance in 1983, he was Senior Vice President, and President of Herbert Clough, Inc. He then presided over his own consulting firm, John C. Steggles & Associates, in West Hartford, Connecticut. As a member of the board of directors of Geico, John was instrumental in convincing Warren Buffet to rescue the company, which eventually became part of the Berkshire Hathaway stock group.

The Steggles retired to John’s Island, Vero Beach in 1980 and also maintained a summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts. John was a frequent world traveler and cultivated beautiful gardens wherever he lived. An avid golfer, he enjoyed country club memberships in Chatham, Montclair, John’s Island and Oak Harbor. Pamela’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, and eventual death in 1998 from the disease, led John to become involved with the Alzheimer/Parkinson’s Association of Indian River County. A major donor to Alzheimer’s, John encouraged others to contribute, and matched donations toward the building of a day care center. John was also very supportive of other health related organizations here and in Cape Cod. He was a member of the Nightingale Society, remembering the VNA & Hospice in his estate plans, and was a Golden Eagle donor with the Indian River Medical Center.

John met his current wife Joyce (Joy) McKay at a Vero Beach fundraiser. They married in 2002 and moved to their current home at Oak Harbor. He recently had his life story published in a book entitled, The Memoirs of John C. Steggles. John will be remembered for his business acumen, keen investment ability and generosity coupled with his sense of humor and a ready smile for everyone he met.

In addition to his wife Joy, John is survived by son Christopher, daughter Angela Nevius (James); grandchildren Hunter and Trevor Nevius, Krista McNamara (Sean) and Orawee Steggles; great-grandchildren Jake and Ryan McNamara; his brother Russell Steggles, sister Peggy Beaney and numerous other family members throughout the world.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on his behalf to the Alzheimer/Parkinson’s Association of Indian River County, his charity of choice.

SERVICES: Memorial Service will be 1:00 pm on September 12, 2009 at The Community Church (Chapel), Vero Beach, FL.