Steven Vincent Tamborello

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Steven Tamborello, who departed this life on October 13, 2025, at the age of 60. Though his time among us was far too short, the love, laughter, and kindness he offered will remain forever in our hearts.

Steven Vincent Tamborello was born in Houston on June 30, 1965, the fourth of eight children of Joseph and June Tamborello. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph, and by his younger brother, Tim.

The Tamborello household of Steven's childhood was tight-knit and deeply loving; a boisterous home that was a social hub for the siblings and their many friends. The compassion, playful humor, and devotion to friends and family that would define Steven as an adult were forged in his childhood home, as were the competitiveness and relentless work ethic that would eventually propel him to the highest echelons of his chosen career in hospitality.

Steven attended St. Michael's Catholic School and Robert E. Lee High School in Houston, before finding his way to the University of Las Vegas. It was there, amid the bright neon and endless distractions, that Steven discovered his professional calling, earning a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1993.

Steven's hospitality career would take him all over the country, with stints in Nashville, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Chicago, among other locations. He was passionate about his work, putting in long hours to ensure everything was in place for whatever project or event he was working on. He could come across as gruff, but his irreverent sense of humor was disarming. He was a demanding boss, but he never asked anything of his employees that he wasn't prepared to do himself, and he got to know all his employees from dishwashers to senior managers. Steven was rewarded for this relentless pursuit of excellence, earning the 2014 Director of the Year while working with the Oklahoma City Thunder and eventually managing operations at the Chicago convention center.

Steven's dedication to hospitality was not strictly professional - it was core to his personality. He was as likely to stay late at work to help wash dishes as he was to be the last to leave a party and help clean up. Steven would put the same amount of effort and planning into barbecuing for his family as he did when planning business operations. And he was utterly dedicated to his blended family; he might dedicate all his waking hours to his job for weeks at a time, but he was equally likely to take a weeklong vacation to ensure he didn't miss a moment of a visit from his grandchildren.

Steven excelled at calmly managing incredibly large and complex venues, but he and Sandy ultimately chose to make their home on a quiet mountainside. He had spent a year in England with his uncle Rob in 1986, where a lifelong love for farming and animals was born. His longing to return to that lifestyle prompted Sandy and Steven to move to Dandridge, Tennessee in 2021. It was there on his farm that he felt most at home. Whether tending the land, caring for animals, or waking early to work under the dawn sky, Steven's love for the farm was evident. To him, the farm was more than a dream home; it was a place of peace, purpose, and generational connection.

He met the love of his life Sandy while living in Philadelphia. They married in 1995 and he became a proud stepfather to Nicole and Michael and then his love for parenting only continued when he became the father of Lannah. He found joy in being a steady presence in her life, a source of encouragement, and a champion of her dreams. Her happiness and success were inseparable from his own.

Steven is survived by his loving wife, Sandy; his daughter, Lannah; his stepchildren Nicole, husband Benjy and Michael; his grandchildren Lila, Violet, Nina and Rafi; his mother, June Tamborello; his siblings: Joe Tamborello, wife Cheryl; Lisa Lipman, husband Lou Weiss; Renee Heckler, John Tamborello, Gina Boutalbi, husband Said; Shelley Masterson, husband Douglas as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends whose lives he touched with warmth and generosity.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, October 24, at St. Michael Church, 1833 Sage Rd at 2pm with a private interment following. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Steven's honor to the World Central Kitchen.

May we carry forward his love of family, playful humor, tireless work ethic, belief in the land's beauty, and his joy of BBQing for friends and family. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

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