Stephen Paul Soltoff

SOLTOFF, Stephen Paul, 68, of Newton, December 8, 2020. Stephen (who went by Steve) was a loving family member, a kind friend, an accomplished scientist, and a source of joy and humor for everyone around him.

He was born in 1952 in the apartment above his father’s drug store in West Philadelphia. He worked in the store as a young man, which instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for the value of family ties, medical science, and hard work. The family later moved to Havertown, PA, where he grew up as a dedicated son to his parents, the late Sidney and Vivian Soltoff, as well as a role model (and occasional instigator) to his younger brothers, Charles and Gary. In school, he was a diligent student. Partly due to the positive influence of his high school biology teacher, he chose to study biology during his undergraduate education at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree, he began a career in biological research but also traveled the world. He backpacked through Europe, hitchhiked across the American West, and biked along logging roads from New Hampshire to Nova Scotia. His appreciation for nature and the outdoors continued throughout his life.

In the 1970s, he began graduate studies at Duke University in Durham, NC, where he ultimately received his PhD in Pharmacology. His years in Durham were formative for him. He deepened his skills as a researcher, and he developed a close group of friends, who shared his passion for science and, more importantly, his irreverent sense of humor. One of these friends was a Zoology PhD student named Wendy Smith. Her outgoing demeanor balanced his calm grounded nature, and she adored how he made her laugh. Their bond eventually grew into not just a friendship but a partnership. They were married in 1987.

In the 1980s, Steve and Wendy moved to the Boston area to establish their careers and their family. Steve began work as a post-doctoral fellow at Tufts University and then spent close to two decades as a researcher at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

While Steve drew great pride from his work, it was dwarfed by his pride in his family. He deeply loved his sons, Ben and Alex, and taught them how to live their lives with integrity, compassion, and laughter. In 1995, the family made a home for themselves in Newton. Steve’s favorite activities included weekend outings to museums, nature walks, camping trips every August, and annual food-filled celebrations of Passover and Thanksgiving with family in Philadelphia. After retiring in 2017, Steve volunteered with the Temple Reyim congregation, documented his family history, and spent quality time with Wendy.

He passed away from leukemia shortly after celebrating his 33rd wedding anniversary, and the world lost light in an already dark time.

Steve is survived by his wife Wendy, his sons Ben and Alex, his brothers Charles and Gary, a large extended family (including gregarious clans of cousins on both sides), and many close friends and colleagues who respected and cherished him.

Services will be private. Donations in Steve’s memory may be made to JF&CS Family Table, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or HIAS.