Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Stephen Barclay, 79, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in Annapolis, Maryland on February 4, 2025.

Steve was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on September 27, 1945, to Emerson L. and Charlotte Beeson Barclay.  He grew up in Indiana and he enjoyed competitive swimming, family gatherings at Granny and Grandad’s farm and loved his dog, Blackie.  With the help of a mentor, he discovered his passion for science and got his first job at Eli Lily.  He graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

He went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received his PhD.  While at the University of Wisconsin, he met his wife, Jamie Sanders, and they married in 1969.  They spent many summer evenings hanging out with friends at the Memorial Union Terrace, listening to live music and watching sailboats on the beautiful Lake Mendota.

From Madison they moved to Boston, where Steve did postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  In 1976, their daughter, Erin, was born.  They enjoyed spending Sundays exploring the North Shore and Cape Cod beaches as a young family.

After three years at MIT, they moved to the Chicago area where Steve was an assistant professor in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Illinois Chicago.  Steve launched his first lab of graduate students and relished exploring Chicago’s many museums and the Art Institute.

From Chicago, Steve returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and became a professor in the Bacteriology Department, where he did research and taught many future scientists, nurses and doctors. 

Over the course of their 29 years in Madison, Steve enjoyed family life, which included hosting lab parties for his graduate students, attending Erin’s swimming and rowing events, exploring the beaches and art galleries of Door County and building a fantastic collection of classical and Celtic CDs!

After retirement, Steve and Jamie moved to Annapolis to be near their daughter, Erin, and her family.  Steve treasured his time with his grandsons.  He delighted in all their interests and enjoyed mentoring and encouraging their creative and athletic passions.

In 2019, Steve and Jamie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Paris.  They marveled at the Impressionist masterpieces in the Musée d'Orsay, enjoyed viewing the historic landmarks and architecture from a riverboat on the Seine, and explored Sacre-Coeur and other beautiful churches.

They were married for 55 years.

Steve is survived by his wife, Jamie, daughter, Erin Curran (husband Matt), two beloved grandsons, Gus and Finn, along with mother-in-law, Betty Sanders, sister-in-law, Glenna Barclay, nephew, Chris Barclay, niece, Suanne Barclay, and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mark.

Steve loved Indiana, genealogy, science, history, the arts, and his family, most of all.  He was patient, kind, curious, creative, optimistic, funny, loving, and loyal.  He was dearly loved by his family and will be missed greatly.  They cherished every moment they had with him.

The funeral for Steve will be on Thursday, February 13 at the Kalas Funeral Home in Edgewater, Maryland.  The visitation begins at 11:00 AM, followed by the funeral service at noon.  The burial will be at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville, Maryland after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to <a href="https://account.venmo.com/u/theMusicalAutist?catchAll=u&catchAll=theMusicalAutist">The Musical Autist</a>, 8137 Equestrian Drive, Unit A, Severn, MD 21144 (https://themusicalautist.org/).

There will be a celebration of life at a later date in Indiana.

Stephen L. Barclay

Stephen L. Barclay

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