Steven Arthur Pradell

Jun 29, 1960 -

Jun 12, 2023

Steve was born in 1960 in Fairbanks, while his parents were teaching near Nome, Alaska. After they moved back to Winthrop, Mass., Steve was raised on Alaska folklore and stories. His mother's piano expertise and Steve's charisma found him playing music, practicing magic, performing plays and impressing girls. He attended Brandeis University where he studied philosophy.

Afterward, a stop as a Duck at the University of Oregon law school prepared Steve for his move to Alaska as a lawyer. During law school he went to Homer, where he worked as a deckhand on a fishing boat in 1984. There he lived in the trailer of Mary Epperson, who was the heart of the Homer music community. She saw him play piano and adopted him. Steve always had a warm place in his heart for Homer.

In the drive up to Alaska, he drove a VW bug and towed a trailer. Steve was not going to stop driving or pay for restaurants. Rather, he drove non-stop, living on a crate of tomatoes. When he crawled away from the inevitable car accident covered with tomatoes, the bystanders assumed that he was covered with blood rather than tomato pulp, until he licked himself clean.

Once settled in Anchorage, Steve began his career as an attorney and soon worked with Birch Horton Bittner, but after a few years decided to open his own firm, Pradell and Associates, where he practiced the remainder of his career. Though Steve dabbled in various areas of practice, his calling was in domestic relations. Steve was a fierce advocate for his clients, and he was dogged in his attention to detail and preparedness for trial. He was justly proud of his legal victories and the human counseling that he provided to all clients.

Steve was very determined that he would never marry or have children or pets. Ironically, shortly thereafter he met and married Nancy Edtl and instantly became stepfather to her five children, with pets. He eventually became the proud grandfather, "Bappa," to 12 grandchildren. Steve was an active member of the community, giving his time and attention as an advisor to the Anchorage Youth Court for years, writing Bar Rag articles, doing magic shows, playing music - cello, piano, guitar and more - hosting a myriad of foreign exchange students and serving as mentor for other families who became hosts as well.

Steve Pradell died unexpectedly in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 12, 2023, at age 62. He was the beloved son of Lila Pradell and the late David Pradell and stepson of Judy Pradell; cherished husband of Nancy Edtl; proud father to five stepchildren, Teresa Mata-Anderson (Ken), Jeffrey Borck (Kirsten), Laura Gyfteas (Kosta), Randall Borck (Victoria) and Alexander Borck (Danielle); and grandfather to 12 grandchildren. He is also survived by five siblings: Larry Pradell, Brenna Pradell-Boyd, Marjanna Perrotta, Lisa Farrell and Amy Pradell.

The great Bappa-Stevedini leaves a void behind, and he is missed by many.