Steven C. Watson

Steven C. Watson (born June 18, 1949) died peacefully in his home on July 23, 2025.

From the boardroom to the classroom to the rugby pitch, Steve lived life fully and intensely, enriched by dear family and friends from around the world. His distinctive voice and stature were matched by his brilliance, generosity, and tireless enthusiasm for people and places.

Born in Queens, NY to Olga J. and Francis “Frank” X. Watson, Jr., Steve was the younger brother of Lynn (Watson) Smith and Francis “Buddy” X. Watson III. He attended elementary through high school in Syosset, NY. He followed in his brother’s footsteps and attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI / Whoopie Tech) earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His love of rugby started prematurely on the college basketball court where he successfully fouled out of every game. He remained an engaged WPI alumnus and member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. A loyal “Fiji” forever to his brothers, he helped restore their house and reignite their spirit over the years.

After a start with New England Telephone, Steve decided to earn his Master of Business Administration at Harvard and began his official rugby career on the Harvard Business School Rugby team. He played in the scrum as a block of immovable granite, loved to lead the social camaraderie after the match, and remained a fan of the game throughout his life. His lifelong teammates were also travel mates in annual rugby matches around the world where Steve demonstrated his skill with languages on over 30 tours.

He launched a dynamic career in the emerging technology industry as an intern at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the 70s. He co-founded Euro Software and other entrepreneurial ventures and advised many other VCs.

In a new mission-driven chapter of his career, he earned his Master of Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School. He taught and provided executive leadership in public, private, and charter schools over the course of two decades.

Steve lived in Geneva, Switzerland, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, New York, and Florida, but his heart kept returning to the Boston area and his Christian faith. He enjoyed baseball card and comic book collecting, fine wine, gourmet cuisine, trivia games, (Brooklyn) Dodgers baseball, and rugby, rugby, rugby. And Steve reveled in a lively debate.

Steve held his small, but mighty family closely with constant contact and involvement in the events of their lives. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Olga J. and Frank Watson, and brother Buddy Watson, Captain, US Navy retired. He is survived by his sister Lynn (Watson) Smith (and Peter Smith); his sister-in-law Titia Watson; his nephew Scott Smith (and Beverly Achey); his nieces Kirsten (Watson) Alcorn, Alison Smith (and David Paushter), and Kerry Watson; his grandniece and nephews Juniper Alcorn, Bryn Alcorn, Griffin Alcorn, and Allen Wehner; and his cousins John Watson and Rosellen (Watson) Bowen.

Steve also treasured his extensive chosen family including Gail and Andy Mills, Esther and David Schultz, Jim Allfrey, Marjorie Augenbraum, Mike Rush, Lorna and Jerry Shafir and so many other friends, colleagues, and teammates from around the world.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 10:00am ET at Hope Christian Church, 58 Mount Vernon Street, Winchester, MA 01890 with a nearby reception to follow. Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Avenue, Wakefield, MA 01880.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the Salvation Army (https://give.salvationarmyusa.org), a favorite local youth organization of Steve’s More than Words (https://shop.mtwyouth.org), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (https://www.wpi.edu/give), or an educational charity of your choice.