Roderic Gordon Steinkamp, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and friend, passed away on November 25th, 2024. He was 85 years old.
Born on October 20, 1939, in Newton, Massachusetts, Roderic “Rick” was the son of Alfred F. Steinkamp and Eileene Goudey Steinkamp, and grew up with his beloved sister, Dawn.
Rick is survived by the love of his life and wife of 58 years, Katy H. Steinkamp; his self-proclaimed greatest accomplishments – his two sons, Roderic J Steinkamp (Erica Stine) and Gregory G. Steinkamp (Kelly); and his three adored grandchildren, Carlos, Jakes, and Lindsey.
Rick graduated from Andover Academy and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University in 1961 and a master’s degree in political science from UNLV in 1998.
After graduating from Yale, Rick began a successful career in the publishing industry, working for prestigious companies including Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Houghton Mifflin, and Macmillan where he helped shape educational publishing for many years. His career culminated with his position as President of the School Division at McGraw-Hill/MacMillan.
Rick was deeply passionate about three pursuits he often referred to as his “Three Ps” – publishing, poker, and politics. After retiring from publishing, he and Katy moved to Las Vegas, where he continued to chase his passions. His second year in Las Vegas, Rick achieved an impressive fourth-place finish in the World Series of Poker, solidifying his place in the competitive poker world.
Rick also became deeply involved in his community. He served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada, took on a “little brother” of his own and was named Big Brother of the Year in 1993. In addition, he ran for political office in 1998 as a candidate for assemblyman in District 21, narrowly losing to an entrenched incumbent. His campaign, however, opened the door to a new chapter, as he was invited to teach political science at UNLV.
Teaching became one of Rick’s greatest joys. He was a dedicated educator at UNLV and later at the College of Southern Nevada, where he taught until he was 83 years old. Over that period, he received the highest student evaluations of all Poly Sci adjunct professors, a recognition he cherished as a testament to his positive impact on his students.
In his later years, Rick found immense joy in watching his grandchildren grow into young adults, taking pride in their achievements and the positive impacts they are making on the world. He also continued to follow his favorite sports teams, particularly his beloved San Francisco 49ers and Giants, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Los Angeles Clippers and probably his favorite, the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Rick was known for his kindness, humor, and unwavering commitment to his beliefs. He was a passionate man who always sought to do the right thing and to leave the world a little better than he found it. While his family takes comfort in knowing he is at peace, they will miss him dearly and will always carry his memory in their hearts.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Donate to St Jude in Memory of Rick
St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
From Vince Teti
Rick was one of those “People you meet”. Had an Italian class with him and kept up at Yale. He married while at Yale. I connected with him a few times when he was in Los Vegas where he was playing poker for a living. He was a fine friend and gentleman. Truly one of most most memorable persons I had the pleasure of knowing when we were in New Haven.
Vince