Albert Edward Steele Jr.
Albert Edward “Ed” Steele Jr., 78, of Lake Frederick, Va., went home to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, February 3, 2023. He was born in 1944, in Washington, a son of the late Albert E. Steele Sr. and mother, Alice Pearl.
In 1965, he married his college sweetheart, the former Linda Nichols, whom he met while in eighth grade. Both are graduates of Trinity High School, Class of ’62 and California State College, Class of ’66.
Ed began his teaching career in Avella, in the science and chemistry department. In 1970, he obtained his master’s degree from the University of Georgia in Athens. He and his wife then moved to Rockville, Md. for Ed to join the faculty at Robert E. Perry High School before moving to Virginia in 1984, where he became a member of the faculty at Broad Run High School as a Chemistry and AP Biology teacher and serving as science department chair. After a career spanning 44 years, he retired from teaching in 2014.
While at Broad Run his competitive spirit, love of sports, and desire to work with young people outside the classroom led him into coaching. Ed had previously coached Little League baseball and football within the Annandale and Braddock Road sporting programs.
Coach Steele was a vital part of the athletic program at Broad Run having been the foundation of both the wrestling (1984) and softball (1992) programs. He is one of the more accomplished and decorated coaches in the commonwealth. Steele was at the helm of the wrestling program for 20 years posting a 200-95-3 record, producing four state, 24 regional, and 45 district champions.
Over a 30-year span, Steele also guided the softball program to lofty heights culminating in 509 victories, ranking Coach Steele second in Virginia history for most wins. The Lady Spartans hold four state crowns, three consecutively, accumulating a winning record of 105-4 over a four-year period, with two consecutive undefeated seasons, amassing a 61-game winning streak, and out-scoring their opponents 742-23. The highlight of Ed’s coaching career was in 2008 when his team and coaching staff finished the season ranked #1 nationally by USA Today.
With Ed it was all about working hard and having fun. At the end he said, “Winning isn’t important; it’s fun. The kids are what’s important.”
Ed is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda; son, Edward Michael and wife Janine of Haymarket, Va.; daughter, Christine Michele McKinnon and husband Michael of Whispering Pines, N.C.; son, Scott Aaron of Front Royal, Va.; two sisters, Donna Pyne (Jerry) of Malvern; and Alice Marie George (Larry) of Washington; one aunt, Norma Ruschell of Okeechobee, Fla.; and six beloved grandchildren, Colby (Danielle), Mackenzi (Cleanthi/Greg), Sarah, Rebecca, Emerson and Grayson; along with brothers-in-law, Bill (Linda) and Dave (Roseanne) Nichols; and many nieces and nephews.
Ed was an avid reader and enjoyed boating, gardening, flea marketing, sports of all kind, and fishing with his grandkids and friends. He was known for his compassion, sense of humor, devotion to family and friends, and dedication to his life’s work in education.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations, in Coach Steele’s honor, to the Gardner-Webb University softball program at webbgive.gardner-webb.edu, where his granddaughter, Mackenzi, is carrying on his coaching legacy; or to cancer research at Johns Hopkins at giving.jhu.edu/hopkinsdoctorsday.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hour of a funeral service, Tuesday, February 14, in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Avenues, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, owner / supervisor, S. Timothy Warco II, director, Holly Renay Warco, director, Park N. Crosier, director. Interment will follow in West Alexander Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.