BlueStar Founder and CEO Passes
BlueStar News Release :
November 7, 2023 – Hebron, KY – With a heavy heart and great sadness, we announce the sudden passing of our esteemed founder and CEO, Steve Cuntz, who left us on Saturday, November 4, 2023. His death is a profound loss to our BlueStar family, and our thoughts and prayers are with Steve’s family during this difficult time.
Steve’s vision, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropy, and dedication have been instrumental in building BlueStar into the leading global technology distributor. His fingerprints have touched every aspect of the company he loved like family. His legacy is this company, which will continue to thrive in his honor.
For those who had the honor of knowing and working with Steve, we recognize his gifted intellect and intense entrepreneurship. We are humbled by how deeply he loved his family, friends, and the BlueStar team, which he worked tirelessly to build, making his loss all the more difficult.
Mr. Cuntz led BlueStar for over 30 years. During that time, the company was presented with countless awards, including Distributor of the Year from manufacturers such as Elo, Epson, Datalogic, Honeywell, Star Micronics, and Zebra; from partners such as CDW; from associations such as the RSPA and more. Steve was awarded the winner of the prestigious Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” designation and has served on the E&Y committees to evaluate future winners. He also led BlueStar to numerous business awards, such as the Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100, the Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55, and the Northern Kentucky “Emerging 30.”
Mr. Cuntz served on the Board of the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM) and the Executive Committee for the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA). He also served on the Board of Trustees for Xavier University.
Mr. Cuntz earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Xavier University, held a Master’s degree in Finance, and became a Certified Public Accountant. He served as Chairman of the BlueStar Board of Directors.
Steve's legacy will live on via the core values he imbued in the DNA of our company. BlueStar is his legacy, and in that spirit will continue to thrive as he would have expected.
Sincerely,
The BlueStar Board of Directors
Funeral and Celebration of Life Arrangements for Steve Cuntz
A visitation will be held Friday, November 10, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 10272 US-42, Union, KY 41091. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the church.
A Celebration of Life will be held on December 2nd from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Drees Pavilion in Devou Park. BlueStar employees, customers, vendors, and business partners are welcome to attend this event. Additional details on this event will be forthcoming.
In place of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Steve’s name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Cincinnati, Cincinnati/Dayton Office Staff, PO Box 29, Milford, OH 45150, or donate to St. Timothy Catholic School, 10268 US-42, Union, KY 41091.
To share a fond memory of Steve or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.linnemannfuneralhomes.com.