Stephen Dresch passed away Sunday, August 6 at his home in Hancock, MI. He was born in East St. Louis, Illinois in 1943, the first son of Rev. Lester and Mrs. Lenore Dresch. Stephen's courage to stand up for what he believed led him in many directions over his lifetime.
Stephen graduated from High School at the age of 16. At 19, he married Linda Ness and graduated from Miami University in Ohio. He later received his PhD in economics from Yale University.
Early in his career, Stephen worked at the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Ford Foundation in New York City and held teaching positions at Yale, Rutgers, and Southern Connecticut State College (now University). He established the Institute for Demographic and Economic Studies in New Haven, CT. He was an economic advisor to several presidents, and even in his mid-20s, he was unafraid to openly dispute in testimony politically expedient proclamations by presidential cabinet members and others to stand up for accuracy and responsibility to the public’s best interest.
By the mid-70’s, Stephen recognized the failing state of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In 1983, he went to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna, Austria to work with other scholars debating, planning and promoting the free market future of the East.
In 1985, Stephen arrived in the Keweenaw to serve as dean and professor in the School of Business and Engineering Administration at MTU. His uncovering of malfeasance within the university spurred a pivotal shift in his career focus. Striving towards truth, justice and integrity, he exposed corruption in government and related private enterprises. He was passionate about protecting the rights and liberties of the common, unconnected individual.
Through this new direction, he sought and won a seat as the representative of the 110th District in the state legislature in a campaign based solely on grass-roots support. His engaging style brought attention to the legislature by the common people because they believed they had a champion standing up for them. However, the bipartisan political machinery assured his political career was short.
Stephen remained undaunted. In the last, lengthy phase of his career, he provided expert testimony, investigation and analysis in numerous judicial and congressional venues, as well as uncovering domestic and international corruption and bioterror threats to society. He was also involved in the production of an independent film, the trailer of which may be seen at www.deadinthewoods.com.
Stephen was a member of many far-reaching organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Association of Applied Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Great Lakes Property Rights Action League and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is the author of five scholarly books as well as numerous journal articles, newspaper columns, testimonies, book chapters, and reviews. His contributions continue to impact and inspire many people. His greatness was in his goodness and in his breathtaking courage.
Stephen was preceded in death by his parents.
Stephen is survived by his wife Linda; his sons Soren (Kelly) and Karl; his daughters Stephanie (Steve) Rowe and Phaedra (Steve Brown) Dresch; grandchildren Peter and Sophie Rowe of Hancock, MI and Soren Simms and Merrill Dresch of Crawfordville, GA; brother Michael (Sue); and sister Elsa (Dennis) Boen; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at the Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet on Wednesday, August 9 from 3:00-5:00 and 7:00-9:00. A memorial service will be held at 2PM Thursday at the Peterson Funeral Home with Reverend Sydney Morris officiating. If people wish to share stories about Stephen, they may send them to mchugh@mackinac.org. A memorial will be posted at the Mackinac Center website at www.mackinac.org.
“IN HOC SIGNO VINCES”
Carry on, Stephen.
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