Stephen Crane Morris

Stephen Crane Morris (97) died peacefully on October 19, 2024. He was preceded in death in 2020 by his loving wife and best friend of 67 years, Amanda Ford Morris. Their devotion to each other was truly an inspiration.

Steve is survived by his four children: Annie (Frank), Warren (Betsi), Patrick (Lori), and Marian (Kevin), 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, all of whom will forever miss him but will remember his insatiable curiosity, persistence, irreverent sense of humor, and his love for his wife, family and the great outdoors.

Steve attended Roxboro Elementary, Hawken School, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Yale University. Upon graduation, he returned to Cleveland and joined Ostendorf-Morris Company, where he spent his professional career, and helped build the firm into the largest industrial/commercial real estate brokerage between New York and Chicago. He retired as Chairman in 1985.

After retirement he turned his attention to preserving open spaces for future generations. He volunteered his services to the Trust for Public Land and helped found what is now the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. He remained devoted to its mission for the remainder of his life. He was particularly honored to have been involved in preserving thousands of acres of open spaces.

Throughout his life, Steve was an avid reader. In 2002, upon learning that Cleveland public schools did not have classroom libraries like those in the suburbs, he founded, and for years spearheaded, the Cleveland Schools Book Fund, providing books, resources, and support to children in the Cleveland public schools in partnership with their teachers. 

Both Amanda and Steve instilled in their family the importance of respect, hard work, being grateful for one’s blessings and, “giving back.” Those values and other invaluable lessons will always be a part of our lives and we thank them.

Their children gratefully acknowledge the superlative support of their parents for many years by their caregivers, particularly Manuela, Isabella, Luba, Karolina, Ivana, Zora, Lisa, Katie, and Biljana. They will always have our deepest respect, admiration, and love. Hvala!

In addition, the children thank Terry and everyone at Hospice of the Western Reserve.

The family will hold a private remembrance and kindly requests no flowers.