Steve Dance of Fasig-Tipton dies at age 78

Steve Dance, a senior member of Fasig-Tipton’s auction team for five decades, died suddenly on May 25 at his home in Jarrettsville, Md., of a suspected heart attack. He was 78, and just a week prior had worked at Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.

Dance was a native of Towson, Md., as was former Fasig-Tipton president Humphrey Finney. Steve's uncle “Laddie” Dance, Humphrey’s son John Finney, and Larry Ensor, all subsequent luminaries at Fasig-Tipton, befriended the younger man and found a variety of jobs for him as Fasig-Tipton expanded. Steve Dance became a full-time auctioneer and bid spotter for the company in 1972, and did not miss a single Fasig-Tipton auction over the ensuing nearly half-century.

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Steve Dance also owned and operated a company founded by his grandfather in 1912, the Milton J. Dance Auction Company, selling a variety of antiques, other objects, and homes. Steve Dance was also a motorcycle enthusiast.

Dance is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Erica and Whitney; son Lee; stepdaughter Layne; and brothers Andy, Scott, and Tom. Arrangements are pending.