-The Wizard of Oz
A childhood friend of ours shared the following observation with me. “He was a very good friend who I have always known and thought of as a good person with a kind heart and a desire to do well by others. In my experience he was never mean or spiteful or judgmental of others and that is not really all that common.”
His entire life, Steve sought to be recognized, accepted and appreciated. He would make a plan, find a group of friends to build that stage of his life around, and try to achieve his goal. During that time, the network of friends would sustain him through those efforts. He gave freely in return for that. He has been described as being entirely selfless; he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. As time passed with each group, he would come to the natural challenges that serve as tests and barriers to achieving dreams. Invariably his friends would, as his family had in the past, question the path, or offer advice. And then things would change. Steve didn’t take criticism very well. Even if you didn’t question his goal, if you challenged the manner in which he was pursuing it, he backed away. Time and again throughout his life, I watched him treat those questions as betrayals. He would pack up and move on, resurfacing months or even years later in a new group, with a new plan in place. Each time he moved, he rebuilt that life around himself. He found loving, supportive people, and he touched their lives in the process. And they supported. And they accepted. But ultimately, they questioned … and he moved on. If there is one tragic footnote to my brother’s life, it would be this: he never realized that he had already found the acceptance he craved – repeatedly. Over and over, time and time again, he rebooted his life and recreated his perfect world, and then ran away from it when it threatened to engulf him in questions, doubt or commitment. I don’t believe my brother ever understood the extent to which he touched people’s lives. I don’t believe he ever recognized the depth of the love and concern he brought out in people. He wanted unconditional acceptance, and never understood that the world doesn’t work that way.
Maybe Steve had it right though. Maybe that’s why he found such ready acceptance time and again. There was something in his message that people recognized; perhaps even something they wished was true.
Steven is someone that I cherished and looked forwarded to talking to. I only wished I could get him alone and really listened to what he was thinking. We had dinner once but we didn’t talk about anything but him traveling and trying to promote his cd out west. I miss him as a friend I just wish I could have heard the troubles he was having. I had no idea he was in so much pain.I used to be able to pick up on those certain pings in a person. I personally miss him because he kept me alive. He didn’t judge, he’d listen, I miss you more than you will ever know..
This is such a wonderful tribute to Steven He was an Angel sent to this earth in the form of a non-judgemental,loving,caring,talented,giving Father and friend. I miss him so much. I miss our talks I miss his heart. You will always be in my heart,forever and always. I love you and miss you more,Sally
I met Steven during his days as a stripper. We became pretty close because of our love of music, dance and acting, and it didn’t hurt that he was gorgeous and I could be pretty generous with my money. As time went on, he became one of my dearest friends. We both did massages, so we talked about skin care, music, and things going on his our lives. I really hated to see him leave, but he was going to pursue his dreams, and I supported that. I’m still moved when I think of him, the things he could have done. He was truly one of the most beautiful men I ever met, inside and out!
Happy Birthday, Steven, wherever you are in the clouds above and in our hearts here below.
Michael Marchi, I would like to purchase Steven’s Album. Was it ever published? Is it available on CD or electronically? Where can I go to purchase the album. Steven’s music and his perspective in the movie are rich with positive energy, perspective, and inspiration. May the gift of Steven’s life live eternally for all those who hear his music and watch his movie. There are many I wish to share his music with.