Former resident, founder of textbook production firm, accomplished artist
Sally Steele. (Courtesy photo)
Sally Thompson Steele, 77, most recently of Brunswick, Maine, died Dec. 22, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of love, family, friendships, accomplishments, and countless cherished memories. Born Oct. 11, 1946, in Washington, D.C., to Margaret Miller Thompson and Robert Earnest Samual Thompson, Sally was a beloved wife, mother, friend, and grandmother, whose profound combination of powerful strength, warmth, and compassion touched the lives of all who knew her.
Sally was a leader with many talents. As founder and CEO of Thompson Steele Production Services, Sally ran a full-service textbook production house in Harvard for most of her career. She loved her work, was a highly respected businesswoman known for delivering high-quality services to clients, and had many beloved employees.
Sally was also deeply dedicated to her family, friends, and community. She was known for her compassionate, caring nature, and her strong voice anywhere she went. She was a talented gourmet cook who loved hosting dinners that would ignite joyous conversation and connection. One of her favorite things was inviting new people to the table.
Sally was a luminous soul who inspired and nurtured many. She was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Harvard, and later the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick, Maine, churches where she found community and nourishment for over 40 years.
Outside of career, family, and community, Sally loved to read, and was an avid reader of novels. She attended Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut, and Boston University in Boston. She was also an accomplished watercolor artist who studied art in Florence, Italy, and who loved to travel and paint scenes from the world around her.
Sally is survived by her loving husband, Richard Steele of Brunswick, Maine; her loving sons, Brian Steele of Freeport, Maine, and Sawyer Steele of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; her loving brother, Robert Thompson of Rutland, Vermont; her loving sister, Peggy Striegel of San Antonio, Texas; and four grandchildren.
Sally will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. Memories of her will forever be cherished.
A service to celebrate Sally’s life will be held Feb. 3, 1 p.m., at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church on the Common, 9 Ayer Road, Harvard. Following the service a reception will be held at the church’s fellowship building, providing an opportunity for loved ones to gather and share cherished memories of Sally.
