Steve lit up watching and supporting his kids and made every effort to make memories with all of them along the way. Britt and I drank beer from the bell that night and laughed until our face hurt. Steve also was a genuine support with my own daughter Gwyneth and she felt that. We love you al beyond. How hard to have to say a sudden farewell to such a neat man. When thinking back to your involvement as youth in our church, we are grateful for the way your parents and family supported your faith journeys. May all the promises of Baptism flood you with the support of the Holy Spirit as you grieve.
Love, Good Shepherd friends, The Manley's. Steve always greeted you with a warm,kind smile. He had such a great sense of humor.
Always a loyal friend to many people. Cindy Cain. Hi everyone. I guess, almost by default, that I am one of Steve's oldest friends. I was shocked to hear the news of his passing and to realize the finality of the situation. I guess there is a lesson there, all of us should value the time we have with our closest friends as no one knows what might lie around the corner.
When did I first meet Steve? I don't know exactly, he was always a part of the wider "gang" that emerged-congregated out of Jefferson Junior High School in the late 's. Oh yeah, what a time that was. Back then there were so many of us all in the same age range who attended Jefferson and later on Centennial High School.
It seemed like we were all living out of one another's houses especially during the summer time. Centennial Park and Centennial Pool not at all like the present day aquatic center were common territory where friends would meet during the day, walk around the pool perimeter even in 90 plus degree heat , head home on our bicycle's, eat and then regroup and head back to the park. Summer seemed to last forever, but eventually in August, the shadow's would lengthen at sunset and sure enough it was no time before all of us were back in the JJHS prison for another year. Steve and I were friends at an age and time when you needed friends, particularly during the early adolescent years.
Things are confusing enough when you are 15 and of course, at that time you need a good bud to bounce things off of especially after a teenage break up. Those were tumultuous times both socially and politically. Race relations were not in that great of a state and the north side of Champaign and the University area seemed to be in constant conflict. The campus was alight from , mostly with resistance to the war in Vietnam.
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Our generation was the first to experience high school age racial integration on a large scale. Well, it didn't always work well, but, over time it seemed like all of us both black and white got to know each other and worked it out at our common school level. Steve's being an athlete brought him into contact with many of his African-American team mates and in turn his sports ability made him many friends in the Black Community.
These open lines of communication worked well, especially when Centennial H. During that time Steve helped to defuse tensions because he approached everyone as an individual. His deep links into the Black community also meant that he was able to defuse tensions between individuals often with just a few words. He would probably be embarrassed to hear that now, but it is true. He did a lot to cool out opposing factions from all backgrounds who were dead set on making things worse rather than better.
Good job brother. Well, as many depictions of youth life that I've seen in films and TV regarding the late 's and early 's almost always never approach the true reality of those times. Growing up in a University city like Champaign meant that those of us in high school at that time were close enough to the counter culture to have been directly impacted by all of its temptations both good and bad in a major way.
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Those were the days when there was very little common ground, you were either on one side or the other. Although Steve was primarily focused on sports, he was also greatly aware of events happening in society and on the campus. After the murders at Kent State in May of , Champaign was a war zone and there was really no middle ground. I know that Steve was deeply impacted by all of that as well. Once all of us the greater gang graduated from high school we all still remained close. Champaign is a good town for shifting seamlessly from high school, to junior college and then to University.
There was a significant contingent of us who migrated from Centennial to Parkland in late , so in many respects it was a seamless transition to our 20's and a good excuse to continue the party. Steve and I stayed in contact during that time and later on in life. During his brief stay at SIU Edwardsville in , I visited him on a couple of occasions and then later on we lost touch for a bit particularly after I started to travel abroad.
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Since my parents still lived in Champaign I was back frequently and sure as summer, I would pick up the phone and Steve and I would reconnect. With Steve in town I was then instantly connected to a wide range of friends and we all would inevitably raise a glass or two or three and talk about old times. Steve was always a good friend to everyone in his orbit and especially enjoyed spending time with those of us who hailed from those early days in Centennial Park.
His loves were all significant but relatively few as the ladies in his life rightly or wrongly often found themselves in competition with his extended family, sports and musical interests. That's not to say that they weren't important, but Steve had an uncanny ability to compartmentalize his priorities and to spend his precious time on earth with those he cared about. A large part of his giving nature was to make sure that he was able to share quality time with both family and friends as they were both very important to him.
Those early connections retained an especially high priority with Steve for all of his life, right until the very end. He knew looking back on his life that some of his best times were with his closest friends and he was loyal all the way through. I think part of the shock of Steve's passing is the thought that someone with so much energy could be stilled. It is hurtful to think that we all were leading our lives unknowing of the imminence of his destiny as his clock was winding down. So my friends and family, there really isn't much more to add.
I sit here quite a distance away on the eve of his funeral and reflect on times past. So, if I could speak with him this evening I would say to Steve my friend and brother that I am genuinely happy to have made your acquaintance and friendship for nearly the whole of my life, that I am deeply thankful for the kindness you extended to me after the death of my father in and the warm welcome s that you extended to me after my times away from Champaign.
I believe in life you only get a few really close friends and Steve, I am indeed honored and thankful that we were close buds. Take care compadre. It was a remarkably quick ride, wouldn't you agree? I know that you had a good time and you will be missed by all of us who were lucky and honored to be in your presence and inner circle during both good and bad times.
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All the best my friend. Take care. The first time I ever saw the mountains I was with your family in North Carolina. We were at a McDonalds taking a break from the long drive, and your Dad told us to come to the other side of the van the big white one of course. We walked around the side and he pointed the mountains out to us. Where are they?
I thought all mountains had snow! Gosh what a fun and genuine man. We send you our kind thoughts and prayers.
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Steve was a kind-hearted man and friend to so many. So sad to hear of Steve's passing as we played baseball together many moons ago and he was always a guy that we could count on in many ways but mostly as a friend. Condolences to the rest of the Fam on his loss.