Richard Steele; Yachtsman Helped Found Newport Harbor Museum

Richard Steele, 77, a yachtsman who helped found the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. A native of Pittsburgh who was brought up in Pasadena, Steele graduated from Pomona College and served as a Navy captain during World War II. He was a lifelong sailor and won several trophies in the Trans-Pac Race to Honolulu. In addition to helping create the nautical museum, Steele became a major contributor and recently obtained its new location aboard the historic stern-wheeler Pride of Newport. He also contributed his collection of ship models to the museum. Steele was chief executive officer of the Harry and Grace Steele Foundation through which his family has contributed more than $70 million to arts and education, primarily in Orange County. On Saturday of heart failure while cruising on his ship Wide Waters in Puerto Vallarta.