Stephen Michael Mockbee died unexpectedly at home on April 10, 2021. He was born April 29, 1947 in Queens, New York and was a lifetime native of Wilmington, Delaware and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
Trying to put the life of Stephen Michael Mockbee into a few words is like trying to trap lightening in a bottle. God gave him special powers to complete his mission on Earth.
In this man, who could command any room and any situation, was a huge heart filled with love, loyalty, determination, vision, leadership, grit, and humor. Steve combined all of his gifts and with them he touched so many lives to not just make a difference – but to make a great difference. Who could keep up with his pace and energy and drive?
He was a proud Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran who declined a Purple Heart, a graduate of and varsity Lacrosse Player for University of Delaware, founder of Bancroft Construction Company, and a person who always said, “Don’t tell me why you can’t do something – tell me how you can.”
Stephen served on numerous university, hospital, and non- profit boards. He served on industry and community committees and boards. He worked with many many people to help them accomplish their particular mission including schools, veterans, children services, and religious organizations. Once, he was approached by a local hospital to see if he could help facilitate the renovation and reparation of an outdoor balcony located outside the children’s cancer wing. It was their only way to go outside on a regular basis. With an already stretched at the seams workload, he gathered a team from Bancroft and said, “Let’s make this happen.” It was opened 10 months later. He had tremendous stamina, along with extraordinary amounts of guts and gusto. He loved his wife, Maria, his family, his friends, his boat, and his gardens. He was a huge fan of ballooning, strategic planning, and The Eagles. He never entered a room – he burst into it. And he didn’t leave a room as much as he took most of the life force out of it.
His resume demonstrates what an amazing man he was. But it was his heart, filled with compassion, empathy and love that made him a great man. He will remain unforgettable.
He is predeceased by his mother Anne Mockbee, his father Clarence Mockbee, his dear aunts, uncles and his stepson Michael Kohler.
Surviving him in life are his beloved wife of twenty seven years Maria Kohler Mockbee, his son Geoffrey Mockbee and his wife Amy Mockbee, daughter Michelle Mockbee and her husband Jack Roberts, son Theodore Mockbee and stepson Matthew Kohler. He is also survived by his dear grandchildren Henry, Luella and Sadie Mockbee, sisters Vickie Buckles Mockbee, Joan Murray and her husband Gordon Grimes, Denise Mockbee and Kim Faucette and her husband Leo Faucette and many sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers those who wish to remember Stephen may make gifts in his memory to: Friends of the Delaware Veterans Home Dental Clinic, c/o Debbie Cain-Johnson, 108 East Water Street, Dover, DE 19901 or St. Anthony’s Senior Center, c/o Debbie Wirt,1702 W. Tenth Street, Wilmington, DE 19805.
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