Stephen G. Harber, 87, of Sebastian, passed away on May 17, 2014, at his home in Sebastian surrounded by his extended family.
He is survived by his children, Chris (Ann) Harber, Lucy Harber (John Tullo), Mary (Larry III) Loschiavo, Greg Harber, and Terese Harber; grandchildren, Lacey (Aaron) Titkemeier, Stephen (Morgan) Harber, Larry J. Loschiavo IV, and Lara Loschiavo; great-grandson, Benjamin Titkemeier; brother, Tom (Katie) Harber; brother-in-laws, Tom (Sandy) Depenbrock, and David (Nina) Depenbrock; many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Depenbrock Harber.
Harber was a father figure and mentor to many; he loved the outdoors, camping, high school and college sports, and music (despite being unable to carry a tune himself). He did what he could to make his community a better place and inspired many others to action.
He was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., and moved to Sebastian with his wife Alice after raising their family in Fort Lauderdale. He retired from Allstate Insurance after serving 25 years as an insurance agent. He graduated from Xavier University in 1951.
He was a Seaman Second Class in the US Navy serving on LST 1074 during WWII. He was honorably discharged July 25, 1946 and received the Victory medal and American Area Campaign medal.
He was a member of Roseland United Methodist Church, the Pelican Island Audubon Society, Friends of St. Sebastian River, Pelican Island Preservation Society and the Environmental Learning Center. He supported the initiatives of many development and civil society organizations including the Missionaries of Charity, OXFAM, Food for the Poor, The Carter Center, Amnesty International, Southern Poverty Law Center, Glenmary Home Missioners, Sierra Club, Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Greenpeace, Habitat for Humanity, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska, Doctors Without Borders, the United Farm Workers, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, and national public radio and television.
The family would like to thank his caretakers Sharon, Linda, Tony, and Nikki, the Nurse on Call staff, the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice staff, and the many other home health caregivers and therapists who took such great care of him over the years.
Memorial contributions may be made to a humanitarian or environmental organization of your choosing.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Roseland United Methodist Church on Monday, May 26, at 7 p.m. with refreshments in the church hall immediately following the service.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at St. Sebastian Catholic Church followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. A graveside service will follow immediately after the mass at Sebastian Cemetery. The family will host a lunch reception at the church hall after the burial.
“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
–Margaret Mead
