Kurt Arthur Van Steemburg of Loudonville, NY, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. He was 72. Our beloved husband, dad, and friend crossed over in the wake of a lunar eclipse. Quite the send off for quite the man.

Born in North Adams, MA on October 11, 1953, Kurt grew up cradled in the majesty of Mount Greylock and in the magical Berkshires woods. The middle child of five, he was a natural athlete and gifted scholar. He was a graduate of Drury High School in 1971. As a young man, a series of events changed the course of his future forever: he matriculated at Williams College in 1971; his parents each died unexpectedly, first his father Arthur Van Steemburg in 1972, and then his mother Lorraine (Murray) Van Steemburg in 1973; and he met the great love of his life, our mother Jinx (Virginia Wall Van Steemburg) of Williamstown, MA, to whom he was devoted for 53 years. He found comfort, adventure, and love in his Williams community and in Jinx at a time of deep and profound loss. He bled purple through and through.

He enjoyed 40 years in the paper business, beginning at SD Warren and then as Vice President of Hudson Valley Paper Co. in Albany, NY. Since he could never take a day off from work, he held a retirement job at Comfortex manufacturing in Cohoes, NY. He completed business with integrity and a respect for every colleague. Our dad didn’t move mountains, build empires, or save lives. But he did live by a code: treat people with kindness and fairness. Never let the sun set on anger. No whining or self pity. Lend a hand to your neighbor. And above all, as his grandfather Neil said, “Live life as it should be, not as it is.” We have been deeply affected to hear from his friends, and colleagues near and far, old and new, about the ways he made a difference in each of your lives. No sweeping gestures, no illusions of grandeur. Just a boy, a man, who tried to be good to others in small ways, every day until his last.

He enjoyed simple, quiet pleasures in life: the warmth and softness of a cashmere sweater, a single malt on the rocks. Hugging his loved ones and cutting a rug on the dance floor. The art of conversation and the pursuit of knowledge. The majesty of a hawk in flight and the sparkle of a campfire. Spying every eagle’s nest along the train ride to NYC. Asking questions and being genuinely interested in your answer. A glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, a hot fudge sundae. The trust that duct tape and a pocket knife can get you out of any jam. The precision of inlaying a piece of cherry wood into maple. The camaraderie of his Friday morning men’s spiritual group at St. Pius. Trimming his signature mustache. He had a quick, dry wit and the biggest heart. He was unselfish, patient, and loyal.

Kurt’s church was the great outdoors. He could ride a horse like the wind, and a shared love of horses kept him close to many of the people he loved including Jinx, her parents and his sisters-in-law. His hiking boots carried him up and down trails in some of the most beautiful places on this earth. His waders keeping him dry in countless streams; rainbow trout feared him. Just a few months before he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Kurt completed a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. He hiked the 1000 km trek from France to Spain in honor of his two dear Williams College Morgan West friends, Bart Nourse and David Terkla who predeceased him. When we asked him what he learned along the way, he answered simply: “I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I’ve decided that maple walnut is the best flavor of ice cream.”

We asked him if he gets to another place, can he please send us a sign. He responded “If have time. They might keep me real busy up there, no idea how long orientation will take.” He was always on the move, driven by a hunger to squeeze every drop out of life, and we expect nothing less in his death.

He is survived by his wife, Jinx, and his three children Peter, Kristin and Skylar Van Steemburg; daughters-in-law Whitney White and Lilly Zuckerman; grandchildren Paige and Reed Van Steemburg; siblings Jane (William) Van Steemburg Bryce, Peter (Sheila) Van Steemburg, and Susan (Marty) Van Steemburg Oliveri; and an entire gaggle of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his sister Karen Van Steemburg Briggs and his parents Art and Lorraine.

His survivors are indebted to the incredible people of the Community Hospice, who loved and cared for him both at home and at the St. Peter’s Hospice Inn through the last months of his life. We are forever grateful to each and every one of you who treated Kurt with dignity and respect.

Calling hours will be held at the Argus Hotel (8 Thurlow Terrace, Albany, NY 12203) on Sunday, March 8, 2026 from 1-4pm. A celebration of life will follow this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any of the following organizations in Kurt’s honor: Albany Rural Cemetery where Kurt sat on the board of trustees; Community Caregivers where he volunteered running errands for his elderly neighbors; Capital Roots whose community garden in Menands nurtured his body and spirit; or St. Vincent de Paul food pantry where he volunteered stocking shelves and delivering food. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.