born in odessa, ukraine, stept came to the united states at the age of three and grew up in pittsburgh. sam was the son of solomon (july 15, 1874, russia - january 1969, los angeles) and clara stept (born 1872, russia), who were married around 1895, in russia. sam stept married jessie e. stept "(née" mcbride, c. 1901, pittsburgh - june 18, 1967, manhattan). jessie was the daughter of george b. mcbride and ada f. mcbride of pittsburgh.