Memorials

​Steve Barnett, engaged citizen, former NCAA wrestling champion, University of Oregon Duck, Chicago Bears NFL football player, and Rotarian passed away peacefully at his home in Danville, California on Tuesday, January 2. He was 76. The cause was congestive heart failure. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lynn, his children Kelli Smith (Brant) and Elizabeth Barnett (Will) and his sisters Linda Swiger and Stephanie Barnett.

Steve was born in Sand Springs Oklahoma and came to Fremont California in 1950. He was a gifted athlete and became one of that city’s most famous sports figures. While at Washington High School in the late 1950’s, he played on Coach Bill Walsh’s winning football team. The two created the famous “refrigerator play” where Steve, the offensive tackle, ran for touchdowns. Steve was also a champion high school and college wrestler and was awarded athlete-scholar-citizen awards in both high school and college. While at the University of Oregon he was both a First Team Academic All-American and First Team Football All-American, voted All Conference three times, tapped for the Honor Society of Friars, recipient of the Emerald Athletic Trophy, elected to the University’s Senate, and played in the Hula Bowl, Liberty Bowl and East West Shrine Game. As an All-American, Steve met President John F. Kennedy, who asked him to play on his Hyannis Port football team. Steve was inducted in the State of Oregon’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and into the University of Oregon’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1963, the Chicago Bears selected Steve in the second round of the NFL Draft. That was the year the Bears won the Super Bowl, then known as the World Championship. Steve also played for the Washington Redskins for one year.

Back in Fremont, Steve joined Sunnyvale’s Barnes Hind Pharmaceutical Company as a sales manager. After his retirement, he made the Bay Area community’s life richer with his many volunteer activities. Notably the Niles Rotary Club, in which he was an active member and Club President. Steve mediated landlord tenant disputes for Alameda County. He was a member of the Contra Costa County Grand Jury that published an influential report on cleaning up the San Joaquin delta. He also worked with the Danville Police Department as a “VIP” (Volunteer in Policing) and, in 2014, was awarded “Volunteer of the Year.” As a minister for 33 years, Steve has married many couples and they all cited his warmth and his open heartedness as the thing that made the ceremony special. Steve will be greatly missed by family and friends. He managed to look like the Mayor of every city he happened to be in with his handsome shock of white hair, his penetrating blue eyes and his commanding voice and presence. His kindness in the community is legend and he rushed to help those in need and was always there to listen and to assist. He was also known for his sense of humor and the heartiest and most heartfelt of laughs. He loved to play bridge, bocci ball, and just about any other game. Playing cards with him was an adventure all in itself. Steve was known as “Captain” to all the young people in his life; “The Bear” at the University of Oregon; “Partner” at the Bridge table;” Steverino” in his amateur theater group; Daddy-O at home; and My Friend to so many. Like Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, Steve never lost a game. He just ran out of time.