UC mourns the passing of former first lady Carol R. Steger
Steger worked at the UC Foundation
Carol R. Steger, former first lady of the University of Cincinnati, died on August 12, 2025 at the age of 85. Steger served as UC’s first lady from 1984 to 2003. Her husband, Joseph A. Steger, was UC’s 24th president and had the second-longest term in the university’s history. President Steger died in 2013.
Steger is survived by her daughter, Tracy McClorey, Bus ’85, CAHS ’11; son-in-law Jeff McClorey, Bus ’86; son Martin Steger, Bus ’89, daughter-in-law Rhonda Steger; grandchildren Dillan McClorey, A&S ’15, Natalie McClorey, Bus ‘16 and Zemmie Steger; and great-granddaughter Cora Brammer.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Carol Steger,” said UC President Neville G. Pinto. “For many years, she worked tirelessly alongside her late husband, President Joe Steger, to advance the mission of UC, and she dedicated countless hours to the UC Foundation in support of our students. Her warmth, generosity and commitment will be remembered always.”
Carol and Joe Steger. Photo/Provided.
As first lady, Steger shared in an interview with The News Record that the role of president and first lady is a team effort. She relished her position, supporting President Steger, serving the university and working in fundraising at the UC Foundation. While at the Foundation, she leveraged her previous investment experience and excelled at donor relations and planned giving. She developed and executed a UC Presidential Ball that raised nearly $1 million for student scholarships over a span of 16 years. Together, she and President Steger, created the Dr. Joseph A. Steger Presidential Scholarship Fund.
Make donations in her memory to the Dr. Joseph A. Steger Presidential Scholarship Fund.
Read the obituary online.
Featured image at the top: Carol and Joe Steger. Photo/UC.
Tags
- College-Conservatory of Music
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Medicine
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Allied Health Sciences
- UC Foundation
- College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
- College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services
- UC Online
- Alumni Association
- Blue Ash College
- Clermont College
- College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
- Graduate College
- President's Office
- College of Law
- College of Nursing
- Lindner College of Business
- College of Engineering and Applied Science
Related Stories
GALLERY: See photos from Moveable Feast 2026
January 28, 2026
View photos from Moveable Feast: Illuminate, presented on Jan. 23, 2026, at UC College-Conservatory of Music. Hosted by CCMpower, the fundraising gala raised more than $140,000 for student scholarships.
TikTok users say anti-ICE videos are being censored
January 27, 2026
CNN turns to University of Cincinnati Professor Jeffrey Blevins to explain why censorship by social media companies paradoxically is permitted under the First Amendment.
Ohio township fails in bid to stop compensation to Ohio Innocence Project exoneree
January 27, 2026
The Columbus Dispatch follows the US Supreme Court's refusal to review a $45 million civil lawsuit award for an Ohio Innocence Project exoneree’s wrongful imprisonment. OIP at UC Law has help exonerate 43 people who served collectively more than 800 years behind bars for crimes they didn't commit.