Volunteer Spotlight: Steve Rhoton

By Greta Engel

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiatives, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work, however, would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our volunteers. In this series of profiles, we meet some of the people who give their time to make Phipps possible.

After complaining about the lack of plants in his life, Volunteer Steve Rhoton’s wife directed him to Phipps. He joined the Master Gardener program and began volunteering in 2023. Steve has always been interested in plants and ecology and is happy that volunteering at Phipps has connected him to this passion!

Steve is a computer software architect that has lived in Pittsburgh most of his life, outside of some time spent in Texas and Arkansas. He studied biology, environmental science and plant physiological ecology with his grad schoolwork leading him to computer science. Steve is married with two children, ages 11 and 10, who he spends most of his free time with.

When asked about his favorite part of volunteering at Phipps, Steve says, “It is a nice break from my current job and it’s so radically different. It is very stress relieving and nice to help out.” He finds great joy in getting to work with plants and seeing them grow, mature and change. Steve usually helps with watering and weeding around the Gallery Room. In the summer, Steve goes over to Phipps Garden Center to water there as well. Phipps is lucky to have passionate volunteers like Steve!