Elmer Andrew "Andy" Steffen Jr  

Elmer Andrew "Andy" Steffen Jr
BIRTH 2 Aug 1924 Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
DEATH 4 Apr 2008 Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
BURIAL Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

2006 - Marian College's 69th annual commencement exercises will be Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m. ...The college will confer honorary degrees on...Andrew Steffen is a retired Indianapolis attorney who is deeply committed to promoting educational opportunities on Marian College’s campus. Andy has taken to heart the teachings of Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter, a powerful advocate for civil rights who desegregated both the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. In 2005, Andy created the Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter Memorial Endowed

E. Andrew Steffen August 2,1924 - April 4, 2008 Services: Thursday, April 10, 12:30 PM, Marian College Chartrand Chapel

Andrew (Andy) Steffen, Attorney and Businessman, passed away on April 4, 2008 at age 83. He had been an attorney with the Indianapolis law firm of McHale, Cook and Welch (now Bingham McHale) from 1988 until his retirement in 2003.
Prior to that he was a senior vice-president at Ameritech’s corporate headquarters in Chicago, where he assisted in the formation of Ameritech pursuant to the requirements of the Court-ordered break-up of the Bell System. While at Ameritech corporate he served on the Boards of Directors of Wisconsin Bell and the Ameritech Foundation.
On returning to Indianapolis and the law practice in 1988, Steffen became active with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, serving many years on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee and later on it’s Foundation Board. Recently he was elected a life member of the Orchestra’s Board of Trustees. During his life, Steffen established an endowment which will continue to provide funds for an annual concert series by the Orchestra.

An Indianapolis native, Steffen was the son of the late Elmer A. and Marguerite Maass Steffen.

He attended St. Joan of Arc grade school and Cathedral High School, and later received both undergraduate and law degrees from Notre Dame University. While there, he was a contributor to various University literary publications, and was Editor-in-chief of the Notre Dame Law Review.

After graduation Steffen worked for the United States Department of Justice in Indianapolis, first as law clerk to Chief Judge William E. Steckler, and next as Assistant to United States Attorney (later Governor) Matthew E. Welsh.

Later he joined the law department of Indiana Bell, where he held various legal and management positions, including that of vice president. During these years he was active in a number of community organizations, serving on the Boards of Concord Center Association (and its President), and of Indianapolis Settlements, Inc. He was one of the founders and incorporators in 1957 of the Junior Achievement program in Indianapolis, and served for ten years as a member and officer of its Founding Board.

Over the years, Steffen was active in and supportive of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as aforementioned, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indianapolis Zoological Society and White River Gardens.

In June of 2005 Steffen established a major new Endowed Scholarship Fund at Marian College, which will continue to provide full annual tuition grants to a number of financially disadvantaged students. These scholarships are designated Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter Scholarships in memory of the late Cardinal, who was a long-time friend of the Steffen family.

Steffen was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash by three sitting Indiana Governors, Matthew E. Welsh, Evan Bayh and Joseph Kernan. In May 2006, at Marian College Commencement ceremonies, Steffen was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities.

For many years Steffen owned and raced thoroughbred horses. He was one of three breeder-owners of Wolf Prince, a colt that competed in the English Derby at Epsom Downs in 1993. He was a member of the Keeneland Club at Lexington, Kentucky, the Thoroughbred Club of America, and of the National Museum of Racing at Saratoga Springs, New York.

Steffen served in the U.S. Army Infantry in World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Achievement in France in 1944.

He is survived by his sisters, Suzanne M. Geringer and Pauline B. Shaver, both of Indianapolis, as well as ten nieces and nephews.

Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday April 10, 2008 at 12:30 PM in Bishop Chartrand Chapel in Marian Hall of Marian College, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis, IN.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis. You are invited to visit www. leppertmortuary.com where you may share a personal memory of Andy, sign the guest book or make a memorial contribution to an organization of the donor’s choice.

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The Indiana Academy to Induct Six Leaders for Lifetime Achievement and Contributions to Indiana INDIANAPOLIS, May 27, 2009 - Six new members will be inducted into The Indiana Academy at its annual dinner and symposium on Monday, June 1, 2009, in Indianapolis...

Andrew Steffen (Indianapolis), posthumous induction, attorney with McHale, Cook and Welch (now Bingham McHale) until his retirement, as well as former senior vice president at Ameritech’s corporate headquarters in Chicago; owner and racer of thoroughbred horses; founder, incorporator, and board member of Junior Achievement in Indianapolis, as well as elected lifetime board member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; and alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and creator of a major endowed scholarship fund at Marian College.