Arthur "Steve" Steven Graff

Arthur Steven ‘Steve’ Graff of Falls Church, VA passed away peacefully at home with family on September 17, 2022 following an 8-year journey with prostate cancer. Steve was born in Highland, IL on June 15, 1946 to William A. and Roberta (Partridge) Graff. He spent much of his childhood in Willoughby, OH, graduating from South High School in 1964. Steve completed a BA in 1968 at the College of Wooster, and an MA in 1972 at Case Western Reserve University, each of these degrees in History. During this time he also served with the United States Army. From 1971-1981, Steve held a number of administrative roles at Wooster, including Director of Admissions Planning and Research. During this time, he met and married his wife and partner Janet, started their family, and completed an Ed.D. at Teachers College, Columbia University. The family moved to Evanston, IL in 1981 where Steve began his 35-year tenure at The College Board, working as an educational consultant with a focus on Higher Education enrollment management and geodemographics. The family moved to Falls Church, VA in 2000. Throughout his life, Steve was an active volunteer whose dedication to service included roles in four Presbyterian congregations as Elder and Deacon, a stint as a NICU baby holder, and as a swimming official while his son and daughter were youths. He also served as a board member of the National Ghost Ranch Foundation and member of their inaugural Governing Board, a term as chair of the National Capital Presbytery’s Commission on Preparation for Ministry, and assisted others as an airport Travelers Aid volunteer following his retirement. As a proud Wooster alumnus, Steve was an enthusiastic supporter of the College which culminated in his service as president of their Alumni Board. He and Janet were honored with Wooster’s John D. McKee Alumni Volunteer Award in 2018. A lifelong passion for choral music led Steve to sing in choral groups from a young age, in church choirs with Janet, and he even enjoyed remote participation during the COVID pandemic. He was also an avid reader and sports fan, enjoyed theatre productions, liked to cook and travel, and delighted in discussions with family and activities with his grandchildren. Steve is survived by his wife of 46 years Janet (Hall); son Geoffrey Hall Graff (Shalini Low- Nam) of Lafayette, IN; daughter Hannah Marie Graff (Nicholas Berry) of London, UK; granddaughters Emily and Phoebe; sister Trudy (Bruce) Bailey; uncle James (Sandy) Partridge; an extended family of sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, greatnieces and nephews, and many others who loved him. He was predeceased by his parents. A memorial service will be held at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046, at 1:45pm on Saturday October 22, 2022. The service will be livestreamed here . Guests are encouraged to wear colorful socks. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Office of Advancement, The College of Wooster (1189 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691) for the Graff Family Endowed Scholarship, or the charitable organization of your choice.