Aleen Steinberg, (Chick) 93, died peacefully at her home on April 7, 2023. Aleen lived the life she loved and loved the life she lived.
Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, on January 26, 1930 she learned to treasure the outdoors: woods, trails, rivers, flowers, wildlife, and all the living things that surrounded her. While attending UW Madison Aleen found her way to Florida where she fell in love with William (Bill) Steinberg. With Bill, she traveled, built a home in Tampa, and became active in many local civic, cultural and environmental organizations.
Bill and Aleen had two children: Jacquelyn and William. Every summer the four traveled the United States, seeing 48 States, and, without fail, visiting Aleen’s family in Baraboo. One summer, 1962, Aleen and Bill visited friends in Cedar Mountain, and thus began Aleen’s sixty plus year sojourn in Cedar Mountain. Cedar Mountain suited Aleen Steinberg. And Cedar Mountain, Transylvania County, and all of North Carolina have had the benefit of her commitment to the outdoors.
Aleen was a founder of the Friends of DuPont Forest, where the Visitor Center is named after her. Aleen was a founder of Muddy Sneakers. Muddy Sneakers is now a statewide organization, introducing youngsters to the outdoors – outdoors which she learned to love as a child. Her legacy and message to the millions of people who have, and will, enjoy the trails and waterfalls of DuPont Forest, and the children who have, and will, explore the outdoors in Muddy Sneakers, is “take care of our planet, it’s a gift to be treasured”.
Aleen leaves her daughter and son-in-law, Jacquelyn and Bruce Rogow; her son William Stoneman; her grandchildren, Bryce Linden Rogow, Brooks Trystan Rogow (Haylee Madfis), Alyna Jace Rogow (Elliot Sanders) and one great grandchild, Wells Sylvan Sanders. She also leaves her brother, Ronald Behrman (Judy), and niece Krissy Behrman. Aleen was a longtime member of St. Philips Episcopal Church in Brevard.
Aleen traveled the world visiting over 50 countries and every continent except Antarctica. She wrote about her travels in her memoirs Keepin’ On, Walkin On: Tales of Travel and Mid-life Adventure. She leaves this world, but her contributions to it remain forever: “Feel blue, touch green.”