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NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- Harry Gerard Steele, 69, of New Canaan died of pneumonia on June 29 at Stamford Hospital. The pneumonia came at the end of his 15-year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
A native of Weirton, W.Va., Steele received a degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in finance from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. He began his professional career with Union Carbide in New York City. He also worked at Lone Star Industries in Greenwich and in 1972 became controller at Pfizer Inc. in New York City. In 1976, Mr. Steele began his 31-year career at Philip Morris U.S.A. in New York City as director of financial controls and planning. In 1990, he was appointed senior vice president of finance at Philip Morris U.S.A., a position he held until he retired in 2007. During his long battle with leukemia, Steele received chemotherapy treatments at New York University Cancer Center in New York City. Steele is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rita Steele; his daughter, Amy Serrano and her husband, Julio, of Darien; his son, Brian Weldon Steele of New York City, and two grandsons. He was predeceased by his brother, Albert J. Steele.
A Mass will be celebrated Thursday, July 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan. Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan. The family will receive friends at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan, on Wednesday, July 6, from 4 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donation on behalf of Harry G. Steele be sent to The New York University Hematology Research Fund in care of Dr. Edward Amorosi, 160 E. 34th St., New York, NY 10016.
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