Dr. Stephen Frederick Thode, 75, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was the devoted husband of Julie (Meyer) Thode, with whom he shared more than 50 years of marriage.

Born to the late Edward and Isobel (Zoeller) Thode, Stephen lived a life defined by family, education, service, leadership, and an enduring commitment to his community.

Stephen dedicated more than four decades of his professional life to Lehigh University, where he served as a Professor of Finance beginning in 1982. He served as Director of the Goodman Center for Real Estate Studies beginning in 1988 and was also Director of Integrated Real Estate at Lehigh (ire@l). Throughout his distinguished career at Lehigh, Stephen helped educate and mentor generations of students while contributing his expertise to the fields of finance and real estate education and research.

Stephen was valedictorian of Mayfield High School, Class of 1969, where he also served as first chair French horn. He was a very proud Eagle Scout. His academic journey continued at Coe College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1973. While at Coe, Stephen was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honor society, participated in Air Force ROTC, served as Cadet Commander, and earned recognition as a Distinguished Graduate. A lover of music, Stephen also DJ'd at the Coe College radio station.

Stephen proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1973 to 1977 as a Missile Combat Crew Commander at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. It was there that Stephen and Julie met while they were both active duty Air Force officers.

Stephen continued his education at Indiana University Bloomington, where he earned both his Master of Business Administration in Finance and his Doctor of Business Administration in Finance, with minors in Business Economics and Quantitative Business Analysis. He was also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society. During his academic career, Stephen received numerous awards and presented his publications at conferences around the world, including in Australia.

Stephen's knowledge and leadership extended far beyond the classroom. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Appraisal Foundation from 2009 to 2014, where he was also a member of the Executive Committee and served as an officer.

Deeply invested in the Bethlehem community, Stephen served on the City of Bethlehem Planning Commission from 2007 to 2011, including service as Vice Chair. He also made multiple contributions to The Morning Call editorial page and was a member of Grace Church Bethlehem.

While Stephen's professional accomplishments were many, those who knew him best will remember him for the things that made him uniquely Stephen. He loved movies and music and was an avid baseball fan, proudly cheering for both the Phillies and the Cubs. He volunteered during the early years of Musikfest and continued attending concerts until the end of his life. Stephen was the self-proclaimed "Dean of the College of Musical Knowledge." He also had a particular appreciation for antique cars, especially his beloved 2000 Mustang GT convertible. He greatly enjoyed riding in the Mustang with his wife Julie down the Delaware, especially during the fall. Stephen was a wine connoisseur who enjoyed discovering and appreciating good wine, and he also enjoyed a good cigar.

Stephen loved to travel with Julie, creating memories together from Ireland to Singapore. In their later years, they became enthusiastic cruisers, enjoying time together exploring the world.

Above all, Stephen was a devoted family man and a very proud grandfather. He treasured the time he spent with his grandchildren and took great pride in watching them grow and make their own memories.

In addition to his wife, Julie, Stephen is survived by his children, Kirstin Thode and her husband, Brian Hernandez; Megan Steich and her husband, Travis; and William Edward Thode; and his grandchildren, April, Evan, Lucy, Jimmy; as well as his extended family, friends, colleagues, and former students.

Stephen will be remembered for his remarkable accomplishments, dedication to his students and community, love of family, and the many interests and passions that made him who he was. His greatest legacy will live on through Julie, his children and grandchildren, the generations of students he taught and mentored, and the many people whose lives he touched throughout his life.

A Celebration of Steve's life will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 10 A.M. until the time of the service. Military honors will conclude services on the front lawn of the funeral home. A memory tribute may be placed at www.cantelmifuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Steve's memory may be made to Grace Church Bethlehem, 4301 Hecktown Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020.