Resident of Lafayette

Stephen Lance DeMaria, 84, of Lafayette, California passed away peacefully at home and surrounded by family on March 25, 2025.

Steve was born onJune 14, 1940 in Oakland, CA and raised in Orinda, the only child of Nellie Darliene Witt and Joseph Antonio DeMaria. He is lovingly remembered by family and friends for his kindness, generosity, dedication to others, good humor, and playful spirit.

Steve joined the Boy Scouts of America at an early age, gaining life-long virtues of integrity and resourcefulness.

ACub Scout in Pack 52 Den 2and aBoy Scout in Orinda Troop 207, Steve proudly earned his Eagle Scout in 1955 and attended the Scouts’ National Jamboree of 1953 as well as the 8th and 9th World Scout Jamborees in 1955 (Canada) and 1957 (England).

Steve graduated from Acalanes High School in 1958, from Menlo College in 1960, and from Oregon State University, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity, in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Business &Technology and a minor in civil engineering.

His career in the forest products industry spanned more than thirty years in executive management and leadership roles focused on investor and corporate relations, government affairs, and general management at American Forest Properties and Bendix Forest Products Corporation (1966–1981), California Forest Protective Assoc.

(1981–1988), and Fibreboard Corporation (1989–1997).

An active member of his community, Steve served in Rotary Club and held positions with organizations including the California Board of Forestry, the Western Forestry and Conservation Association, the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, and the Boy Scouts of America Mount Diablo Silverado Council.

Steve’s love for the outdoors was initially shared with his father; he later enjoyed sharing activities such as backpacking and fly-fishing with his own children and grandchildren. In particular, Steve cherished intergenerational family gatherings—whether beneath the redwoods in his own backyard or at the annual summer trips he orchestrated in Sunriver, Oregon—where he entertained his family with trivia, elaborate treasure hunts, and lively games of dominoes.

Steve is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sally Stewart DeMaria; daughter Debbie Dearborn and her husband Dave of Livermore, CA; daughter Ann Towne and her husband Steve of San Jose, CA; son David DeMaria and his wife Eileen of Concord, CA; daughter Laurel Dobbin and her husband Graham of Walnut Creek, CA; daughter Shelley DeMaria of Dallas, TX; grandchildren Morganne, Connor (Caroline), Michael, Ryan (Kiya), Kellie, Kasey, Joe, Cole, and Peter; and two great grandchildren Callaghan and Bradley.

ACelebration of Life will be held at the family home on June 7. Gifts in Steve’s memory may be made to the Boy Scouts of America Mount Diablo Silverado Council or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.