Stephen Dennis Regan

Stephen Dennis Regan of Charleston entered into eternal rest on Thursday, April 30th. Steve was born in 1950 in Denville, NJ as the third son to Evelyn and William Regan. He and his brothers, Bill, Brian (Chris), and Terry (Shelagh) shared a traditional upbringing and a childhood that was full of mischief, competition and love. They maintained their close ties and competition until the present day through events such as the annual Regan trip to various destinations that are filled with rafting, hiking, and cards. This foundation drove Steve to excel in both athletics and academics. In his senior year as quarterback of Delbarton High School team, Steve was coached by his father and became the top passer in the nation. He was recruited and chose to attend the College of William & Mary by Coach Marv Levy, who went on to coach the Buffalo Bills. After a coaching change, Steve played quarterback for the Tribe under Coach Lou Holtz. Steve was thought to be too small and too slow to be the starting quarterback, but ignited a winning streak and led the Tribe to a Southern Conference championship and an appearance in the Tangerine Bowl. His success taught the legendary coach a valuable lesson which he documented in his autobiography by saying, "The one thing we learned from Steve Regan is never to put a tape measure, a weighing scale or a stopwatch on your quarterback. Find a winner at this position." Steve's passion for football continued after college where he broke into coaching as a graduate assistant to Woody Hayes at Ohio State, winning the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl victory over the University of Southern California. His intellect and care for his players combined to make him a successful coach who was loved by his players. His coaching career also included stops at Army, and Atlantic Coast Conference Championship at North Carolina State University, the Citadel and an appearance in the 1983 Orange Bowl at Louisiana State University. Throughout his career as a player and a coach, Steve built friendships with teammates, coaches and players that were maintained and cherished throughout his life. His journey also introduced him to Patty Bailey Regan with whom he shared a marriage of sixteen years that brought him his daughter, Kelly Regan Duffy (Patrick). Kelly (his "two hands big") immediately became the center of his life and held that position until eventually joined by his granddaughters, Regan and Ava Duffy. Kelly joined Steve to take the role of his office manager where he treasured the opportunity to see her each morning she walked into the office. His days were full of happiness as he had the pleasure of being joined by his "two hands big" in the effort to please his clients. Those days were only improved on the occasions when Regan and Ava joined them in the office. To devote more time to his family, Steve gave up the life of travel required by coaches and became a financial advisor in Charleston. He became one of the top producers for Merrill Lynch prior to starting his own firm of Regan and Associates. Though he was very successful for his clients, frequently cited for his success, he most appreciated the friendships he formed with clients, some being counted among those he considered dearest to him. In 2012, Steve met and fell in love with Anne Conley Regan. His love for her was immediately apparent to all who witnessed him become giddy at the sight of her or the mere mention of her name. She recognized his kind and gentle traits and the love was reciprocated leading to a beautiful wedding on November 23, 2013. Steve cherished Anne and becoming a part of her family. He was fascinated and amazed by watching and being part of the lives of Bridget, Ailish and Owen. He relished their achievements as their interests and talents have continued to develop and shine. Steve's days were not complete until he made his daily visit to the Downtown Athletic Club. He thrived on the daily games of racquetball and comradery with the crew he loved as family. He was filled with love and laughter by the stories and interactions shared among the tight-knit group of friends forged by daily competition and a cold post-match Budweiser. Steve was also an active member of the Hibernian Society of Charleston where he was a Founder of the Hibernian Foundation. He will be missed by the members and his many friends who enjoyed his repartee and laughter. He was also an active member and served as President of the South Carolina Irish Historical Society where he served a central role in the development of the Irish Memorial on Charlotte St. He will be missed by his family, and friends including his niece and nephews and cousins as well as his beloved dog, Belle. Donations may be made to the Hibernian Society Building Fund.