Steven Lee Forte was born on July 29, 1970, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late John Frazier Forte and the late Lois Elizabeth (Blackwell) Forte. He was the fifth of seven Forte siblings.

Raised in a loving, faith-centered home, Steve graduated from Wintersville High School in Wintersville, Ohio, in 1988. While there, he excelled in athletics and earned varsity letters in track and field.

Following high school, Steve honorably served in the United States Army as a military police officer, both domestically and abroad. After completing his military service, he pursued his passion for creativity and earned a degree in Arts and Marketing from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Over the course of more than 35 years, Steve dedicated his professional life to service—whether through the military, law enforcement, or civic roles. Most recently, he worked in client support services with the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Yet Steve's greatest calling was ministry. A man of deep faith, raised in the Apostolic Pentecostal tradition, Steve was a tireless servant of Christ and a champion for the marginalized. His personal mission was to reach "the last, the least, and the lost." He lived that calling as the founder and director of The Fishers Council, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to holistic community outreach and evangelism.

For the past 15 years, Steve also served as the director of  Jr. Ironmen and Sycamore Corps, a youth mentoring program at the Sycamore Youth Center, where his mentorship changed countless lives. Through every conversation, program, and act of kindness, Steve planted seeds of faith, love, and purpose in the hearts of youth and adults alike.

His legacy is not only etched in the programs he led but in the lives of those he mentored, inspired, and uplifted. Mr. Steve, we salute you—a man worthy of honor, remembered for his compassion, strength, and unwavering commitment to service.

Steve was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Elizabeth Gilliam Blackwell Fields, Perry Blackwell, and William Fields; his paternal grandparents, Slone and Ophelia Tinsley Forte; his beloved parents, John and Lois; and his brother, Pastor Jonathan Forte.

He is survived by his siblings: Melisa (Danny) Jones, Anthony (Karen) Forte, Timothy (Jennifer) Forte, Angelita Forte, and Jehu (Destinee) Forte; his son, Miles Forte; his daughter, Sadie Forte; 16 nieces and nephews; and a host of great-nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Steve's life was a testament to faith in action, and his memory will live on in every life he touched.

All services will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025. A graveside service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Union Cemetery, located at 1720 Sunset Boulevard in Steubenville, Ohio. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Sycamore Youth Center, 301 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, Ohio.