Stephen K. Oberbeck ’60

Stephen K. Oberbeck ’60, of Sanibel, Fla.; Jan. 26. After Brown he was awarded a fellowship to the Iowa Writers Workshop and began a career of writing that included a decade as cultural editor at Newsweek, where he wrote book, theater, art, music, and film reviews. He edited the Book & Arts page for the St Louis Post-Dispatch and wrote frequently on cultural subjects for many publications including the New York Times, New York Post, Newsweek International, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and the Paris Herald Tribune. He published numerous poems, short stories, and creative commentary in various national and international periodicals. In 1968, he was awarded an Alicia Patterson Foundation grant to live and travel in Europe and report on the intersection of art and technology. As a marketing writer, coach, and business analyst, he worked with many global companies, including Fidelity Investments, Nomura Group, Saab, Chrysler, Exxon Mobil, PepsiCo, Price Waterhouse, and Philip Morris, writing speeches for top-tier corporate executives, producing major marketing materials, and conducting media and marketing seminars. After moving to Sanibel Island, he continued to share his craft by leading writing workshops on memoirs, short stories, and film. He mentored many burgeoning Island authors to help them write their first personal memoirs and works of creative fiction. He is survived by a daughter, three grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.