Thomas George Steinbacher, 56, died Thursday following a six month illness with cardiac amyloidosis. He was born Oct. 8, 1956, in Williamsport, to the late James and Margaret (Bertin) Steinbacher. After community college in Williamsport, Tom began a 25 year career with Fork Lifts, Inc. He then moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where he began his dog training business, Obey and Protect. Tom moved to Durham, N.C., in 2007. In recent years, he became a certified therapy dog evaluator, providing services to many local schools and nursing facilities. Tom founded the Bull City Shepherds, a club of regional German Shepherd dog owners. He also worked closely with German Shepherd Rescue.
Tom was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He will be remembered for his deep and quiet Christian faith, and despite his illness, a profound sense of gratitude for his family and friends, and the countless blessings he never failed to articulate.
Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Kathleen "Casey" Steinbacher; his daughters, Suzanne (Jeffry) Neve of Orlando, Fla., Elizabeth (Josh) Lambert of Mansfield, Ohio, and Margaret (Jacob) McAfee of Orlando, Fla.; his grandchildren, Matthew Thomas and Elizabeth Marie Neve, and Jackson William and Elliette Kathleen Lambert; a sister, Sandy Steinbacher; brothers, Don, Joe, Bernard, Mike and Dave Steinbacher; and his beloved dogs, Rudy, Tillie and Hayley. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Len.
His funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday from Immaculate Conception Church, Durham, N.C. Calling hours 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. A memorial Mass will be offered 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in St. Joseph's Church, Williamsport.
Memorial donations to: Friends of Duke Medicine, c/o Alumni Records, PO Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708 or German Shepherd Rescue, gsdrescue.org. Click on donations. Online memorials: hallwynne.com.
