In Memory of Byron Womack

On February 20th, 2018 our dear friend and Executive Director, Byron Womack, passed away suddenly of heart failure. He was 48 years of age. Byron’s legacy lives on through his daughter, Carson Womack, his best friend and the source of his pride. Carson is a sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

To say Byron will be missed is a drastic understatement. He has been with the Steer program since its inception and was a friend, mentor, and hero to us all — the heart and soul of our Steer f amily. His personality lit up every room and his presence was distinctly uplifting. There are not enough positive adjectives to describe Byron Womack. Simply, Byron was great man.

In 2017, Byron received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee’s Humanitarian Award, for his dedication in the community as Assistant Principal of Port Chester Middle School and Executive Director for Steer.  Byron was also a decorated member of perseverance and uplift for his Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, garnering the coveted Man of the Year Award for his exceptional work as Chairman of the Scholarship Fund and the Scholarship Breakfast Committee. Athletically, Byron set numerous school records as a running back at Iona College and an NCAA all divisions record for kickoff returns for touchdowns in a career.

Changing the lives of underprivileged youth was Byron’s life’s work. “It’s all about the kids,” he would always say. We, the Steer family, are heartbroken to lose our brother. We also feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to carry on Byron’s mission and we pledge to do just that.  With heavy hearts, we are poised and grateful to take the ball that Byron has handed to us, run and not break stride, as Byron would have wanted.

Steer is proud to have established the Byron Womack Scholarship Fund to perpetually honor the memory of our great friend, Byron Womack, his efforts and impact on the Steer organization and those around him. The fund will support college related expenses on a case-by-case basis. Byron’s daughter, Carson, will be the first recipient. We kindly welcome you to help us in honoring the memory of our dear friend, by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/the-byron-womack-scholarship-fund.

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A quote that Byron left us with, “And for my sake and in my name / live on and do all things the same. / Feed not your loneliness on empty days, / but fill each waking hour in useful ways.  / Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer, / And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near.”​

Gone but never forgotten.  Rest easy, B-Mack.