Steve L. Mara

Steve Mara of Davis, CA passed away on May 7, 2025. He was born to Frances and Walter Mara on February 4, 1960, in Carmel. Steve graduated from Davis High in 1978 and aspired to be a bike frame builder. As an early mountain biking pioneer, Steve was an avid cyclist (road and mountain). He also enjoyed beekeeping, gardening, and designing and building audio speakers.

In 1997, Steve was encouraged to work at the California Air Resources Board for his design and building skills. He had worked there for over 27 years when he retired in January 2025. Steve worked his entire state career in the Research Division. His skills were instrumental in developing and creating air quality monitoring programs for research on air quality impacts on children’s health and on-road measurement of air and climate pollutants.

Steve is survived by his spouse Kathleen, his father Walter (Jeanny), his sister Paula (Kurt), and Kathleen’s siblings Janet and Glenn Jr (Rebecca).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Rails to Trails Conservancy or International Mountain Biking Association.