Steven M. Blondy, 54, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on January 3, 2014, after fighting a valiant battle that taught many valuable lessons in dignity and optimism.

Born on October 15, 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, Steve was a 1977 graduate of Pickering College in Newmarket, Ontario and received his B.A., magna cum laude , from the University of Michigan in 1980. He earned his M.B.A., also from the University of Michigan in 1982, graduating in the top 1% as the youngest member of his class. Steve married Mary Baumunk on July 11, 1987, at Baumunk Lake in Ellenton, Pennsylvania. Steve and Mary enjoyed living and raising their family in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and Madison, New Jersey before moving to North Carolina in 2003.

Steve built a distinguished career in global financing and investment banking with world-class financial firms. He gained extensive experience structuring and negotiating multibillion-dollar, highly profitable transactions that created major new corporate opportunities for his organizations and investors.

From 2011 until his death, Steve was President of East Lane Advisors LLC, a financial consulting firm assisting Fortune 1000 companies and institutional investors with competitive strategy, business and financial planning, due diligence, cash flow investment return modeling, capital structure, and M&A integrations. Steve's interest had recently expanded to a local angel investor group who provides counseling and mentoring to early-stage companies in and around North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.

As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Dex One Corporation (formerly R.H. Donnelley Corp.) from 2002 to 2011, Steve transformed the company into the nation's second largest publisher of print and digital directories via aggressive industry consolidation and capital market financings, dramatically enhanced its financial profile, and negotiated a $10 billion balance sheet restructuring. In 2010, Business Leader magazine named Steve as one of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Triangle's Top CFOs.

Prior to Dex One, from 1998 to 2000, Steve was Senior Vice President/Corporate Development at Young & Rubicam Inc., responsible for corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and development at this leading global marketing and communications firm.

In previous corporate roles, Steve served as Chief Financial Officer and managed the international business for the digital marketing communications company Poppe Tyson, Inc. (1996-1997). He also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Grundy Worldwide Limited, managing all financial affairs for this international producer of television programs and coordinating its IPO and sale (1995).

Earlier in his career, Steve worked for Merrill Lynch's investment banking group in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and New York as both a Vice President and a Director, travelling extensively throughout Asia Pacific (1988-1994). From 1982 to 1988, Steve worked in the mergers and acquisitions department at Chase Investment Bank in both New York and in Sydney, Australia and held positions as Assistant Treasurer, Vice President, and Director.

Steve was a past co-chair of the Cary Academy Annual Fund and also served on the Finance Committee at Temple Beth Or. He was a current co-chair of the Development Committee on the Bucknell University Parents Board.

Steve's greatest joy was spending time with Mary and his beloved children, Joel and Rachael. As a family they enjoyed travel and outdoor activities, including golf, kayaking, and downhill, cross country, and water skiing. Steve was also a passionate wine collector, an avid reader, and loved a good tennis match. His family and the many friends and colleagues whose lives he touched will always remember his generosity and warmth, gregarious personality, sparkling wit and humor, and unfailingly positive outlook.

Steve is survived by his wife, Mary Baumunk Blondy; his son, Joel Blondy; and daughter, Rachael Blondy of Durham, NC. Other surviving family members include: his mother, Carol Galin Blondy of West Bloomfield, MI; his father, Marshall Blondy of Northville, MI; his sisters, SusanBlondy Fine of Chevy Chase, MD and Elizabeth Blondy of Detroit, MI; his brothers, Mark Blondy and Benjamin Blondy of Northville, MI and BrianBlondy of Tel Aviv, Israel and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Steve's memory to either The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710, Attn: Ellen Stainback; or to the Keith "Booker" McLaren Math Fund at Pickering College. Steve recently established this fund to honor the teacher who inspired him and made a significant impact on his life. Donations may be sent to: FRISBE, 811 N. Karl Johan Ave, Tacoma, Washington, 98406-1047, indicating Pickering College, and specifically the McLaren Fund, in memory of Steve.

Visitation and a funeral service will take place at The Shunk United Methodist Church in Shunk, Pennsylvania on January 17-18, 2014. Calling hours are5 -7 p.m. Friday and 11 - 1 p.m. Saturday. The funeral service willtake placeat 1:00followed byburial in thecemetery across the road. Pepper Funeral Home in Canton is in care of arrangements. Friends and family will gather at the Blondy home in Durham, North Carolina in the Spring to celebrate Steve's life. All are welcome at both events.