Robert T. “Bill” Steel, 87, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, died unexpectedly in his home on January 17, 2026. Bill was born on May 30, 1938, grew up in England, and was nicknamed after the famous English soccer player, Bill Steel.
Bill lived in Manchester and Brighton. He received his primary education at Christ Hospital Boarding and Day School in West Sussex, England and his engineering degree from the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. There he learned his love of sailing and sailed in many regattas throughout the North Atlantic. When he wasn’t sailing or working, he was playing ‘rugger’ (rugby). In 1968, he sailed the TransAtlantic race to Newport and met the love of his life, Pat. In 1969 they married and in 1970 they purchased the Ensign Cydarydigo. With Cydarydigo and her dedicated crew, they have won many Ensign class sailing seasons at the Newport Yacht Club, including a second place finish this past summer. He will always be remembered for his love of family and friends, his enthusiasm for sailing, and his many, many stories.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia A. Steel. He is survived by his son, Dan and his wife Helen Steel, his daughter, Karla Steel-Neiffer; his stepson, Buzz and his wife Marnie Hooker; and his grandchildren, Jourdan and Jeremy Steel and Max Hooker.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill Steel’s memory may be made to Sail Newport, 72 Fort Adams Drive, Newport, RI 02840, https://secure.qgiv.com/for/sailnewport.
When making your donation, please direct support to: Dr. Alan Robin Gordon Wallace Financial Aid Fund (within Endowment) with the donation in memory of Bill Steel.
