Deceased January 15, 2023
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In Memory
Steve died in Vero Beach, Fla., Jan. 15 after a prolonged hospital stay for a lengthy list of ailments and procedures. Born in Glens Falls, N.Y., Steve came to Amherst from Phillips Academy. A Chi Psi, he majored in history, graduated summa cum laude and earned a Harvard MBA. In 1960, he married Joyce Ann Hirtz (Wellesley ’59).
He worked for the Morgan Bank NYC and, in 1961, moved to Paris. In 1965, he moved his young family, which now included sons Andrew ’84 and Christopher, back to D.C. to work for AID, then Bankers Trust in NYC. Moving in 1970 to London, Steven set up and managed Bankers Trust’s new subsidiary. He eventually went solo, setting up Davis International Banking Consultants in 1975. For the next 37 years, he led a small team, traveling throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, advising clients seeking risk diversification and ultimately writing 18 books about international banking. He retired to Vero Beach in 2012.
An overachiever, Steve swam and played trombone at Amherst. He was an avid tennis player, experienced hiker, lover of yellow Labs and passionate world traveler. He kept fit by jogging around whichever neighborhood he found himself in, accompanied by his trusty Lab. His adventures included hiking the Milford Track in New Zealand (alone), circling Mont Blanc (alone) and almost summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. He delighted in “trophy” family vacations, including skiing in the Alps, going on African safaris, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, exploring Egypt and taking a Grand Canyon float trip. He and Joyce owned a waterfront summer vacation home in Orleans, Mass.
Steve is survived by Joyce, his wife of 62 years; sons Andrew ’84 of Napa, Calif., and Christopher of London; daughter Stephanie of Hamilton, Ontario; and grandchildren Olivia, Arianna, Kian and Theo.
Peter Levison ’56