Bill Steinman Testimonials

Former colleagues remember the legacy of former sports information director and historian emeritus Bill Steinman.

The Columbia fencing community is saddened to hear about Bills passing. I met Bill 30 years ago when I was a competitive fencer. Upon the start of my coaching at Columbia, Bill volunteered to travel and report on fencing. His coverage made you feel as if you were there. His kindness made anyone he spoke to feel special, and his knowledge of sports history was astounding. Bill leaves a legacy of passion and love, and we will miss him so much.

Current Columbia head fencing coach Michael Aufrichtig

It is an honor to write something for Bill after he wrote so well for Columbia's teams. Bill's passing hits hard for many in the Columbia Rowing community. He loved his job, especially highlighting student-athletes' success. Bill had an encyclopedic knowledge of Columbia Athletics for decades. He was a font of positivity around all things sports at this university and around our city.

Current Columbia director of rowing Scott Alwin

Columbia has lost a true icon in the passing of former Sports Information Director Bill Steinman. I remember sitting down for hours at a time talking with Bill about Columbia and sports trivia. We both had decent memories and could go back and forth for days if left alone. Bill's passion for Columbia and his attention to detail and nuance were trademarks of his writing style, but beyond his writing skills he was a fascinating person if you could ever get him away from sports. Few may have realized, but he had this huge affection for trains and train rides. Oftentimes when traveling with Columbia teams he would find the local train museum and visit. Every summer he would plan a big train trip in which he would trace historic routes of all of the major railroad companies. He did transcontinental routes, but often would find routes that no one would ever think of taking, but to him held special significance because of the engine that was used or the type of car and cuff links that were used. We have truly lost a wonderful member of the Columbia family. For those of us who knew him he was a gem!

Current Columbia men's swimming head coach Jim Bolster

Bill was a Hofstra grad, but he quickly became a loyal Columbian. We had had a problem with his predecessor as assistant director of Sports Information, so I really checked his credentials closely before offering him the job. Everyone I spoke with had only praise for Bill so I hired him -- one of the best decisions I made.

He was especially good at working with reporters from Spectator and WKCR, building relationships that lasted for years with several of them. When I left after almost 20 years, Bill was a natural choice to replace me.

He was especially proud of him brother, Jim Steinman, a songwriter who composed chart-topping hits for Celine Dion and Bonnie Tyler, but was best-known for creating the grandiose music for Meat Loaf's popular "Bat Out of Hell" recordings, who passed away this past spring.

Kevin DeMarrais '64CC
Columbia Sports Information Director 1965-84

My first memory of Bill Steinman was watching him format the Columbia Football statistics on his "word processing" typewriter in his old office on the 4th floor of Dodge. A laborious process, but he needed to make sure that each column was lined up perfectly. These were "Stats' stats."

Over the past 30+ years, I went from being a student journalist seeking information from Bill; a public address announcer hired by Bill; an esteemed colleague of Bill's... and finally the person who produced the video for Bill's induction into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame. I was truly one of the lucky ones.

A great man, and a kind man - he was revered by generations of Spectator writers and WKCR broadcasters, and all of his peers around the city and The Ivy League. There are few people who had his work ethic, which combined with his incredible moral compass made him someone for everyone to look up to. All of us who knew him are better for the experience. May his memory be a blessing for all.

Alex Oberweger '92CC '01BUS
Columbia's Associate Athletics Director, Strategic Communications

When I first entered Columbia in the fall of 1979, my work-study job was in Columbia's Sports Information office. It was one of the luckiest breaks of my life, as I got to work with (and learn from) two people who are now in Columbia Athletics' Hall of Fame – Kevin DeMarrais and Bill Steinman. They've been my friends for more than 40 years.

Bill Steinman was a gentle, great teacher, generous with his time, and a walking encyclopedia of Columbia history. He was a born storyteller. He was highly regarded by the media and by Columbia athletes and coaches -- generations of Lions knew him and respected his advice, and he was proud to play a role in their experience on Morningside Heights.

Most of all, he loved Columbia. He was proud to be part of the Columbia family. It was HIS family.

Ed Barbini '83CC '84JRN
Vice President, Corporate Communications, IBM

When I think of Bill, I think of his warmth, kindness, coaching, and caring for other people. He loved Columbia. He loved Columbia Athletics (and always had a positive outlook regardless of record on the field). His decades of service and contributions will be unequalled and positive impact on others unsurpassed, including the profoundly positive one he had on me. I met Bill in fall 1979 when he hired me as an intern in the Sports Information Office. I was the beneficiary of Bill's mentorship and a 40-plus year friendship for which I am truly grateful. Both were foundational to my entire professional career.

David Newman '83CC
EVP, Chief Marketing, Content & Communications Officer
New York Mets

Even in 1978, when I first met Bill, everyone called him Stats. (He always prided himself on once, when he worked for Hofstra, getting a letter addressed simply, "Stats; Hofstra University.)

I was a high school junior with no business being in Levien Gym without a ticket I had paid for. Even so, Bill (who's not the guy who snuck me in, though he knew who did) put me at the scorer's table to keep minutes played for freshman basketball. From there, whatever I did involving Columbia (and, later, professional) sports - on a basketball stats crew, behind a microphone, in front of television camera, with a reporter's notebook, in a press box - Bill either gave me the job, encouraged me to be there, or used his goodwill to persuade someone else to give me a shot.

I am not the only person to whom Bill extended that kindness. He was universally beloved because of his giving nature.

There are some people in life to whom you owe a debt that can never be repaid because the opportunities those people created for you. Bill was, and will always be, one of those people for me.

Jordan Sprechman '83CC '86LAW
Vice Chairman
J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management

For those who would like to share more testimonials and pay tribute to the life of Bill Steinman, please email Mike Kowalsky at mk3531@columbia.edu and they will be added to this page.