Jacque Steer

Jacque D. Steer passed away suddenly in Rome, Italy on March 12, 2023, at the age of 58, while doing what he loved, travelling the world. Jacque was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on September 18, 1964, the youngest of six children, born to Ruth E. Walczak and James W. Steer. After graduating from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Fla. in 1982, he obtained a bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Florida State University at Tallahassee in 1986. He later completed an MBA at the University of Tampa. Jacque's warm and affable personality was an excellent match for the hospitality industry, and he was highly successful in his entrepreneurial endeavors. After a brief stint working for hotels in San Diego, Ca., Jacque moved to Florida to raise his family and start his own business. He bought two hotels, first the Days Inn in Vero Beach and then the Quality Inn in Ocala, bringing his magic touch to reviving the lagging properties. A bon vivant, Jacque had a zest for life, enjoying all the good things it had to offer. He knew how to have fun. Being with him was an adventure--you just never knew what mischief those twinkling eyes had in store for you. You might end up at Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater for a Jackson Brown concert, or on the Dubrovnik ramparts overlooking the Adriatic where Game of Thrones was filmed or joking your way through a silly game of Put Put. He loved music passionately and curated playlists for the people he cared about, catering to their tastes but also introducing them to new artists. He was a gifted poet and lyricist himself delighting his friends and family with his creations. In another life, Jacque could have been a John Prine or Harry Chapin, two of his favorite songwriters. Jacque's other passion was sports. He was a Seminole's fan from college. Jacque was ever loyal to his hometown football team, the Buffalo Bills. He donned Bills' regalia for the games proudly. Jacque managed to bring his sprawling family together with the annual March Madness basketball brackets. His enthusiasm was so infectious that even the most recalcitrant sister who never watched sports participated. Jacque was a family man. He adored his daughters Hailey and Heather, welcomed Hailey's husband, James, and Heather's fiancé, Brandon, wholeheartedly into the family, and loved his beautiful wife, Linda, deeply. His older siblings were very important to him, as were his nieces and nephews. He easily traveled long distances to maintain contact with them. But the greatest love was reserved for his grandson, Michael, who made him fiercely proud. He stayed part-time in Long Island to be close to him. The world will be a less lively place without Jacque. He will be missed by all, including his furry friends who often kept him company while he explored the Florida trails and waterways via bicycle and canoe. Jacque was predeceased by his parents, his older brother, Jonathan, and his father- in-law, Paul Fratarcangelo. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda, his daughters Hailey (James Gross) Greer and Heather Steer, his grandson, Michael Greer, and four siblings: Jay Steer of Virginia Beach, Janine (Bruce) Smith of Santa Fe, NM, Jocelyn (Joseph Douat) Steer of San Diego, Ca and Johanna Ketron of Charleston, SC., his mother-in-law, Andrea Fratarcangelo and his sister-in-law, Lori (Mike) Pratt. An inurnment service will be held later in the year at St. Bede's Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Va. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Florida Trail Association at floridatrail.org/steer.