Steven Ferree Duke, of the large and loving Duke-Sasser-Poynter-Jacober family, passed away at age 65 on September 12th, 2026 at Bethesda North Hospital with his wife and three of his children by his side. Steve was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a beloved social studies teacher at Princeton High School in Sharonville, Ohio. His teaching career sadly drew to a close with a battle against lung cancer, and while his retirement was far too short, it was filled with time with family and in his favorite recliner reading books.

Steve was born on July 8th, 1961 in Liberty, Texas to Spencer and Edna Duke. He was the second youngest of five children and grew up in Garland, Texas. After graduating from North Garland High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18 and served from 1980-1984, reaching the rank of Corporal. He served in the H&MS-32 unit aboard the USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) and aided in search and rescue missions following the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. In 1982 he married his first wife, Patricia Duke (née Eubanks), and together they adopted a son, Ryan, and had a daughter, Shannon. After his service, he worked for MCI Communications, building out the backbone of the early internet as a fiber-optics design engineer. He was widowed in 1995 and later joined an internet support group on AOL called Widows and Widowers. At a meeting of the support group in February 1996, Steve met his second wife, Tari Sasser, whom he married later that year.

Steve and Tari combined their families in Liberty Township, Ohio, which they would call home for the next 30 years. Steve became a loving stepdad to Tari’s three children, Kristen, Matthew, and Conrad, and two years later they had a daughter, Kali. While caring for his now-six children, Steve followed his dream of becoming a history teacher, earning his bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University in 1999. He taught social studies for two years at Preble Shawnee High School before beginning his long career as a social studies teacher at Princeton High School in 2002. Steve earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Cincinnati in 2008 and was recognized as Princeton High School’s Viking Excellence Teacher of the Year in 2017.

A proud father of a blended family, Steve understood that the ties that bind us are made, not given, a lesson that guided his parenting, teaching, and service. He carried his best qualities – kindness, a bit of gruffness, humor, and steadfastness – forward from his years in the Marine Corps to his years of service as a committed teacher and a mentor for students and colleagues alike. He was a fierce supporter of his wife (and favorite artist) of 30 years, Tari Sasser, and the family that they made together. Their marriage was a medley of art shows, date nights at Playhouse in the Park, RV trips, coaching soccer games, Nintendo golf with grandchildren, Christmas snickerdoodles, and a loud, bountiful dinner table of Tari's renowned cooking (though, despite all efforts, he never touched his vegetables).

Steve is survived by his wife, Tari Sasser (66); his six children, Kristen Lavrinovich (née Poynter) (45), Matthew Poynter (44), Ryan Duke (36), Conrad Jacober (33), Shannon Duke (32), and Kali Duke (28); his five grandchildren, Anastasia Lavrinovich (20), Alexander Lavrinovich (17), Zelda Morris (10), Auden Scott (9), and Sora Morris (6); his four siblings in Dallas, Texas, Cynthia Duke Birowski (73), Tim Duke (70), David Duke (66), and Conni Duke Peterson (62); and his two sons-in-law, Artem Lavrinovich (46) and Brice Scott (26). Steve is predeceased by his first wife, Patty Duke, and his parents, Spencer and Edna Duke.

There will be a brief burial ceremony at 9am on Friday, September 25th at Dayton National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held for Steve at 1pm on Sunday, September 27 in the cafeteria of Princeton High School (100 Viking Way, Cincinnati, OH 45246). All are welcome to attend, including Mr. Duke's former students. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fisher House Foundation.