Stephen Allan Leas' Obituary
Stephen Allan Leas, age 71, of Thurmont, MD, sadly passed away on September 6, 2024.
Stephen (Steve) was born on December 25, 1952 to Albert and Bonnie Leas in Gary, Indiana. After his family moved to Potomac, Maryland, he attended Churchill High School, where he would meet his future wife and love of his life, Claudia Kurrus. Steve graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Political Science and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from University of Maryland School of Law. Steve and Claudia were married in June 1985 and had three children, Courtney Kurrus, Aubrey Lynn, and Stephen Jackson.
Steve was a brilliant and passionate lawyer. Following a brief stint in politics running for the Maryland State Senate in 1986, he joined the Rockville-based firm Belli, Weil & Grozbean. He later opened a solo practice, and expertly handled a variety of civil, criminal, and family law matters. Steve had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting and building his business, Cascade Catalyst LLC, from the ground up. His clients and tenants remember Steve as an empathetic, caring individual who would do everything in his power to help them.
Lovingly nicknamed “the Renaissance Man” by his brother, Steve could quickly master a wide variety of skill sets - dominating at chess, sketching superheroes in the style of his favorite artist, Jack Kirby, and writing poetry. He was the Beatles #1 fan, routinely reciting lyrics and singing his favorite John Lennon songs on a daily basis. Steve was a talented artist at his core, despite his official occupation as an attorney. A sports enthusiast and natural athlete, Steve loved football and basketball. He enjoyed watching his daughters play and filmed every single one of their games. Steve was a practicing Buddhist with a daily meditation practice and interest in Tai Chi. He loved all animals, particularly his dogs Pepper, Maggie, and Kaly, as well as his beloved chickens. Steve will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor, his kind and gentle nature, and love for all living things.
Steve is predeceased by his mother Bonnie, his father Albert, his brother Dave, and his sister Rebecca. He is survived by his wife Claudia, daughters Courtney and Aubrey, son Stephen, sister Jacklynn Ringhausen, and three grandsons, Theodore and Jack Wilkins, and James Gianturco.
In lieu of flowers, the Leas family requests donations be made to Amata Meditation Center in Clarksburg, Maryland (www.uszen.org), or PETA (www.peta.org), organizations that were very dear to Steve’s heart.
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