Obituary
STEPHEN MICHAEL OELRICH
SEPTEMBER 29, 1945-SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
Stephen Michael Oelrich, 78, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024, at the Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages, FL.
He was born September 29, 1945, in Pensacola, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Agnes (Harvey) Oelrich and a son Nicholas Karl Oelrich. He is survived by his wife Cindy Steinemann, Summerfield, FL; sons Ivan (Aimee) Oelrich of Gainesville, FL, and Kenneth Oelrich of Alexandria, VA; one brother, Ivan (Eve) Oelrich of Arlington, VA and four sisters, Patricia Spencer of Gainesville, Audrey (Frank) Mattox of Inverness, FL, Rosemary (John) Bottcher of Monticello, FL, and Karen Carssow of Brevard, NC. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Nicholas Oelrich II (Faith Turinese) of Gainesville, Ashley (Tucker) Barnes of Gainesville, and Grace Oelrich of Tallahassee, FL.
He graduated from Brandon, FL High School, obtained an AA in Police Administration in 1968 from St. Petersburg Junior College and a BS in Criminology from Florida State University in 1970. He began his career in Law Enforcement as a Police Officer in St. Petersburg, then was a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In 1992 he was elected Sheriff of Alachua County, FL and served 14 years until he was elected in 2006 to the 14th District of the Florida State Senate which represented Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam, and Union counties. He served in the Senate for 6 years.
Among his accomplishments during his tenure as Alachua County Sheriff, he was instrumental in forming a statewide Hostage Negotiators Association, partnered with WCJB, local newspapers, and Crime Stoppers to identify Most Wanted Fugitives in the area, obtained grants to upgrade computer systems and develop a paperless warrant management system, and expand the K-9 unit. He assumed control of the County Jail and oversaw the building of a new Sheriff’s administration building. Under his leadership, the Sheriff’s Office was accredited by three major accrediting bodies.
In the Florida State Senate, he was chair of the Higher Education Committee and served on the committees of Domestic Affairs and Military Security, Policy and Steering Operations, Commerce, General Government Appropriations, Everglades Oversight, Florida Inland Waters, Banking and Insurance, Ethics and Elections, Higher Education Appropriations, Health and Human Services Appropriations, and the Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities.
To memorialize his teenage son Nick who died in a tragic accident, Senator Oelrich was instrumental in the passage of the Nick Oelrich Gift of Life Act in 2003. He also actively encouraged enrollment and held an annual golf tournament to raise funds for the cause.
Upon retiring to The Villages area, he continued his support and campaign efforts for Senator Daniel Webster and Sheriff Bill Farmer of Sumter County and Sheriff Billy Woods of Marion County.
The family plans to celebrate his life at a family gathering on his birthday, September 29th.
Suggested memorial donations are to The Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages or to a Gift of Life organization.
Some of these accomplishments include:
- He brought a grant writer on board in the search for available monies that could be used to upgrade many of the agencies outdated systems. By the end of FY 98, the influx of grant monies totaled nearly $2.5 million. With it, he was able to completely upgrade the agency’s computer systems, add a computerized ―paperless, warrants management program, started the agency’s website and Starlink bulletin board, implement community-based substations and expand the K-9 unit with the purchase of an explosives detecting K-9.
- Instrumental in the formation and organization of a statewide Hostage Negotiators Association and he participated locally in the implementation of “Partnerships for a Productive Community” FOCUS groups.
- Partnered with WCJB TV 20 and Crime Stoppers to run a weekly broadcast showing North Central Florida’s Most Wanted fugitives’ faces as well as their crimes, and with the local papers. The Most Wanted program was highly successful at removing criminals from the streets.
- Instituted a career development program for deputy sheriffs and agency employees, along with a new performance appraisal system to fairly evaluate employees for advancement.
- Assumed control of the County Jail that had been plagued with management problems and oversaw the building of a new Sheriff’s administration building.
- Under Sheriff Oelrich, The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office achieved accreditation with three major accrediting bodies:
- The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA),
- Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, and
- The Public Safety Communications Accreditation.
“Please keep the Oelrich Family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, brother and great friend.” Sheriff Emery A. Gainey
Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.
My brother Barry Rogers and I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences over the passing of our childhood friend and neighbor Steve. We cherish those wonderful childhood memories of living down the street from the entire Oelrich family and think of each one of you very often. Steve as well as his family will always be our favorite best friends. We send all of you are love