Stephan (Steve) Jacques Krieger, a third generation San Franciscan, died peacefully in the city he loved. He was born August 2, 1937, in San Francisco and passed away there on August 22, 2025.
Proudly married to Arlene, the couple met as children in religious school, began dating as teenagers, and married in 1958. Together they raised four children and maintained a loving relationship throughout their almost 67 years of marriage.
After attending Lowell High School, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor's (1959) and a PhD in Physics (1963). After a post-doc at Carnegie Mellon, he had a career at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle Campus. During his time there, the family enjoyed a sabbatical year at Oxford University in England.
When his father, Clarence, needed help managing the family's real estate interests, Steve returned to California to assist him. He continued his work in Theoretical Nuclear Physics at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Whether engaged in complex conversations about physics with colleagues the world over, or navigating the intricacies of commercial leases and tenants' needs, Steve unfailingly exhibited grace, kindness, and compassion in his working and personal life.
Steve was a true Renaissance Man. He was an avid sportsman, known for his love of running, biking, backpacking, tennis and Pilates, as well as waterskiing and snow skiing which he continued to do into his 70s. He was also talented in the kitchen, crafting his signature pommes frites and sharing his wine collection. His commitment to his 4:00 PM dip in the waters of Lake Tahoe will be honored for generations. Gifted with a sharp wit, and an ageless sense of style, he was, above all else, a family man.
Steve's guidance and generosity shone brightly in his leadership and philanthropic work with the Jewish Home of San Francisco, and the American Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Steve is survived by his wife Arlene; his brother Dennis (Alice); his children Valerie (Thierry Jahan), Denise (Erik Migdail), Cindy (Stuart Friedman), and Todd; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The funeral will be held on Friday, August 29th at 1 pm at Sinai Memorial Chapel, 1501 Divisadero St., San Francisco. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Steve's memory be made to the Jewish Home and Senior Living Foundation, Congregation Sherith Israel or the Hebrew Free Loan Association.