CMDR James R. Steel, Jr. ("Jim") died peacefully in Pensacola, FL on Thursday, January 28, 2021. He was 77 years old.

Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 12, 1944 to James and Bernadine Steel, both Army Air Corps Officers. His mother was a supply officer and his father was a P-51 pilot serving in Pakistan. He spent his formative years in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Marblehead, Massachusetts. He graduated Marblehead High School in 1962 and attended Babson College and Boston University until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March of 1964. Commander Steel's 23-year military career included assignments to A4s with VA-55, A7s with VA-46 and VA-25, an assignment to the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, 187 combat missions over North Vietnam, 875 carrier landings, and an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross among other honors.

Jim met his beautiful wife Cynthia Sprinkle Steel (Cindy) in Pensacola, Florida while serving in the Navy. They were married in 1978 and moved to the Pensacola area in 1985 after Jim's retirement from the Navy where they raised their three boys: James R. Steel III (Rusty), Andrew R. Steel, and Jefferson H. Steel (Jeff).

Jim spent the next 35 years of his life in love with raising his family amongst the beaches, the fishing, and the great friends and community of Pensacola. Jim will be remembered by his family as a charismatic soul who filled rooms with laughter and tall tales that seemed to be woven from a wild patchwork of a life full of adventure, deep friendships, enduring love, and God's grace.

Jim is survived by his soulmate and wife of 42 years, Cindy; his son, Rusty; his son, Andrew, his wife, Ainsley, and their son, Averest; his son, Jeff and his wife, Lauren; his sister, Catherine DeHart, of Idaho; his brother, Stephen Steel of Idaho; and many local in-laws nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

His family suggests any donations be made in his name to the American Cancer Society or the Elks Lodge of Pensacola Beach.

Jim's Family will receive friends from 10:00am until a Memorial Mass to begin at 11:00am Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at St. Ann Catholic Church, Gulf Breeze, FL. His remains will be interred in a private family graveside service at 11:30am Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola.