Stephen Emanuel Prostano, 68, of Greenwich, Connecticut (formerly Rye, NY) died on August 11, 2026. Steve faced health challenges over the last several years with quiet strength and determination.
Born on August 30, 1957, to Joyce and Emanuel Prostano, Steve grew up with his younger sister, Loren (Prostano) Hayden, in Hamden, Connecticut. At 12 years old, in middle school Spanish class, he met Laura Pellico, who would become his wife of 47 years.
For all he accomplished in his life & career, family always came first. Steve was the anchor of the Prostano family: fiercely devoted, endlessly loyal and always there. He is survived by Laura; their three children, Taryn (Prostano) Barrett (Chris), Dana Prostano (Eric Kochanski) and Alex Prostano (Bethany); and five grandchildren, Theodore, Charlie, Callum, Liam and Leighton.
“Papa” never missed an opportunity to FaceTime his grandchildren, share his latest favorite song or take them to his favorite Italian grocer for dessert. He taught them early about the finer things in life: good food, great music, family traditions and the importance of being there for each other, no matter what.
Boston College held a special place in Steve’s heart. It was where he made lifelong friends and began dating Laura. After BC, Laura & Steve moved to Miami, where Steve attended the University of Miami School of Law, before returning to the Boston area to start their family – finally settling in Rye, NY. Years later, all three of their children attended BC, a source of great pride for Steve.
He truly believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life – and honored that philosophy to the end. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Steve became a respected innovator and leader in wealth management, multi-family office and global financial services. Despite all the roles he held over the years, Steve measured his career less by titles than by the relationships he built. Beginning in his earliest days at Chase, colleagues quickly became lifelong friends, and those friendships followed him throughout every chapter of his career. Perhaps his proudest professional accomplishment was founding The UHNW Institute, which combined what Steve loved most about his work: great people, big ideas and meaningful relationships. It became his passion and a huge part of his legacy.
Steve was unmistakably Steve – a force in all facets of his life. His legacy lives on through the Institute, countless friendships and, most of all, his family – in long dinners, summers by the water, music played much too loudly on repeat and the grandchildren who adored their Papa.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Steve’s memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support research toward better treatments and a cure for CMML.
