Jim Steptoe, Obit

James D. Steptoe
POSTED: September 1, 2009

James Duff Steptoe, who practiced law in Martinsburg for more than 30 years, passed away at his home on Tuscarora Pike on Aug. 30, 2009. He was 58.
Mr. Steptoe, who was preceded in death by his father, Robert Mason Steptoe, is survived by his mother, Sarah Virginia Duff Steptoe; one sister, Sally Steptoe Hazard, of Charleston and her husband, Sprague William Hazard; two brothers, Robert M. Steptoe Jr., of Clarksburg and his wife, Mary Patricia Thompson Steptoe and Philip P. Steptoe II, of Martinsburg. Additionally, Mr. Steptoe is survived by the following nieces and nephews, Robert M. Steptoe III, of Morgantown, Katherine Steptoe Fisher, of Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Hannah W. Hazard, of Morgantown, Dr. Sprague William Hazard III, of Hershey, Pa., Charles Yancey Steptoe, of Crofton, Md., James Glenn Steptoe, of Martinsburg, Elizabeth Steptoe Smailes, of Morgantown, Anne Pendleton Steptoe, of Morgantown, and Rebecca Nalle Hazard Dick, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Steptoe also is survived by nine grand-nieces and nephews, Dylan S. Steptoe, Sarah E. Steptoe, Robert M. Steptoe IV, Charles Hastings Steptoe, Miles Thompson Steptoe, David Blake Fisher, Lillian Sarah Fisher, Cooper James Hazard and Brandt William Hazard.
Jim Steptoe was born in Charlottesville, Va., on March 19, 1951, the youngest of four siblings. After receiving his primary education in Berkeley County public schools, Mr. Steptoe graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., in 1969. At Episcopal High, he received the Whittle Prize for academic excellence and was a member of the track and cross-country teams.
Mr. Steptoe graduated from Haverford College, Philadelphia, in 1973. After working one year for The Peoples Bank in Martinsburg, he graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1977. In law school, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, which is the highest academic recognition awarded to law school graduates.
In 1977, Mr. Steptoe began his legal career in Martinsburg with the law firm of Avey, Steptoe, Perry, Van Metre & Rockwell, the firm co-founded by his late father, Robert M. Steptoe and Guy R. Avey Jr. In 1990, Avey & Steptoe merged with Steptoe & Johnson, the state-wide law firm co-founded by Mr. Steptoe's grandfather. For the next seven years, Mr. Steptoe practiced as a partner in Steptoe & Johnson at its Martinsburg office. In 1997, he established his own private law firm and continued to concentrate his practice in real estate, banking and estate planning and administration until his death.
In addition to practicing law, Jim was an accomplished professional musician. Taught the banjo by Andy Boarman, a renowned banjo player in the bluegrass genre, Jim started his musical career with "Mountain Grass." Shortly thereafter, Jim joined with Rusty Williams, Eldred Hill and Leigh Taylor-Kron to form "Patent Pending" in 1979. Over the course of 30 years, the band played more than 2,000 shows in 22 states and recorded six albums.
Mr. Steptoe was a member of The West Virginia State Bar, and the Berkeley County Bar Association. He served on the board of directors of The Peoples National Bank, and was a longtime member of the Elks Club. He was a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and as a young man, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was awarded scouting's "God and Country Award."
Jim's passions in life were principally three: his family, where he was adored by numerous nieces and nephews, as not just an uncle, but also a friend and playmate; his law practice where he practiced faithful adherence to the standards established by his late father and former partner, Robert M. Steptoe; and his music, which afforded him wonderful friendships and innumerable enjoyable and interesting life experiences.
Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. A memorial service will commence at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 W. King St., Martinsburg.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or the Boy Scouts of America, Shenandoah Area Council.
See obituary at http://www.brownfuneralhomeswv.com/.

Jim Steptoe - RIP

Word has been received on the sudden passing of Jim Steptoe, long time banjo player with Patent Pending. He was found in his home Sunday, 8/30. No other info is available.

From the band website:

- banjo and harmony vocals.
During his junior year in college in Philadelphia, Jim backed into bluegrass music by way of the folk music revival. He started attending weekly jam sessions, playing a lot of Irish music on the autoharp and banjo.
While taking a year off between undergraduate school and law school, Jim returned home to Martinsburg, West Virginia and directed his efforts toward learning to play the bluegrass banjo. It was during this time he met Andy Boarman, a musician and luthier who has helped four generations of banjo players to get the best sound possible out of their instruments. He accomplished this by setting up their instruments and teaching them licks. The list of pickers influenced by Andy includes Don Reno, Little Roy Lewis, and Raymond Fairchild. Jim considers Andy as his initial and most lasting inspiration in music.
While attending law school in Morgantown, West Virginia, Jim met and began playing music with guitarist Rusty Williams; the two played for several years with Mountain Grass. Jim and Rusty recorded one album with this group before leaving the band and moving to Martinsburg. Through the assimilation of a number of competing influences over the years including J. D. Crowe, Bob Black, Don Reno, and Ralph Stanley, Jim has arrived a style that is uniquely his own.