Steven Jay McAdams

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Steven Jay McAdams born October 1, 1957 and died December 25, 2022

Steven Jay McAdams, 65, died after a brief illness at Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA on Christmas Day 2022.

Steve graduated from Estherville High School, Estherville, IA. He graduated with a BA in Economics from the Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO and with an MBA from Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD. Steve worked in the family business in IA and later opened his own restaurant in the Denver area. Steve was focused on work and often maintained more than one job. His work career included a thriving catering business in the Denver area and the special events industry in L.A. His careers often put him in touch with interesting and influential people including presidents, royalty, celebrities, and billionaires; all making for good stories to share with his numerous friends and relatives. Steve spent several years working in the corporate world with a major coffee company opening their stores in the California market. He hired, trained, and managed several new stores in L.A.; including the company’s flagship store in Beverly Hills. He later opened a small chain of espresso carts in CA and Co. In 1995, he received a scholarship form Frostburg State University to pursue his MBA and lived with his sister, who was a professor at FSU. He continued living in the area and worked in the local Small Business Development Center as a business consultant. During this time, he was recognized by the Governor of Maryland for his community and business accomplishments.

Steve loved traveling in his RV. He and his husband, Ara, had traveled to most countries and made many friends throughout the years. One of his favorite places to visit was Palm Springs, CA, and he moved there permanently in 1999. He continued working as a consultant and assistant director in Riverside, CA, until he was hired as the first full-time extension education program administrator at CalState University -Palm Desert. He continued developing the program until his retirement in 2014. While in Palm Springs, Steve met and married Ara Dilanian, the love of his life. Ara was a loved addition to the McAdams family.

Steve will be remembered for his ability to develop lifetime friendships with a diverse group of friends and colleagues. His sense of humor was epic and his passionate belief in human rights for all and for animal rights, along with his ethics were a part of him. He loved arguing and joking with everyone and his sister and brother in-law, Danny Radzin were the happy recipients of his tales.

Steve is proceeded in death by his loving parents Donald and D.J. McAdams, brothers Dean and Scott and survived by his sister JoEllen(Jodi) and husband Danny Radzin of Little Rock, AR. Steve will remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.