The Honorable Steven H. Amick passed away peacefully on Jan. 23, 2019 at Country House, Wilmington. Born on May 13, 1947 in Ithaca, N.Y., he was the son of the late Arthur H., III and Marolyn D. (Hollingshead) Amick.
Steve graduated from Newark High School, class of 1965, and went on to attend Washington College in Chestertown, Md., graduating with a B.A. in Political Science in 1969. He then obtained a J. D. (Juris Doctor) degree from Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, PA in 1972 and was admitted to the Delaware Bar that same year.
Steve's legal career began in 1972, working for Daley & Lewis, Attorneys at Law. He then went on to work for the DuPont Company Legal Department beginning in 1974 where he stayed until 1996. He also worked for Cooch & Taylor, Attorneys at Law. Steve's legislative career began when he was first elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 1986, then re-elected three times. He chaired leadership positions of: the Judiciary Committee, the House Rules Committee, the Substance Abuse Committee, and the Joint Sunset Committee. Steve was then elected to the Delaware State Senate in 1994 where he held the positions of Senate Minority Whip and Senate Minority Leader. He remained undefeated until retiring in 2008.
Steve received many honors and awards in his lifetime: Good Government Award – Common Cause Delaware, Distinguished Legislative Service Award – Delaware State Bar Association, Amicus Curiae Award – Delaware Superior Court, State Public Service Award – AARP, Alumni Citation for Excellence in Public Service – Washington College and Russell Peterson Public Service Award - Common Cause Delaware. He also held many community service positions: President of the Newark Historical Society, Civic League of New Castle County, West Chestnut Hill Residents Association, Committee of 39, and Chestnut Hill Iron Pits Preservation (CHIPPS), Vice-President of Common Cause Delaware, and Board Member of the Bear/Glasgow YMCA and Pencader Heritage Area Association. Steve was also a valuable member of the Newark Morning Rotary Club for twenty years.
Steve married his loving wife, Louise (Masten) Amick of 49 years, on Aug. 9, 1969. He loved classic cars, especially his 1938 Chrysler Royal rumbleseat convertible and his grandfather's Franklins.
In addition to his wife, Steve is survived by his son, Paul H. Amick, of Newark; grandson, August S. H. Amick; brother, Peter Jay Amick and his wife, Ann, of Petaluma, Calif.; sister, Rebecca A. Henn and her husband, Andy, of Carmel, Ind.
A celebration of Steve's life will be held 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 at R. T. Foard and Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to "Washington College" and sent in care of the funeral home. To send condolences, visit www.rtfoard.com.
R.T. Foard and Jones
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