Finally, a question about Steve that I can answer. I was thinking about Steve the other day and my thoughts about him were this: he was one of the least judgmental people I've ever known. He was open- minded and open-hearted about people, all people, and befriended many whom I considered down and outers and even unsavory. All his judgments were about food, drink, literature, and many other non- human things, but not about people. That is so rare and I miss him and his stories about the various people in his life. 

Another rare quality that Steve had was his loyalty to family and friends. We were friends during the two years of high school that we spent together and lost touch for a few years after college. But Steve began writing to me (his usual rambling long letters on high quality paper) during the 80s I think, and we continued corresponding via snail mail until finally he switched to emails. He and I both kept our letters in boxes, although he might have tossed them at some point. I did finally, though I think that perhaps I should have kept them. Steve maintained friendships with many of our high school classmates and I'm sure they miss him as much as I do. Of course, his siblings know how loyal he was ...

Tim Wardner, one of Steve’s friends in North Beach, wrote this beautiful recollection:

I read the notice of Steve’s death a few hours ago. I feel sick with sadness. First to you and your siblings, my sympathetic concern. I’d never seen photos of Steve as a boy and realize that your lifetimes of memories would make for great sadness and emotion. He looked like the perfect brother. In the 15 years I lived in SF Steve was the only person I considered a true friend, that I planned to see in th future. A couple of months ago he visited me at my new house in San Luis Obispo area. After a day together I took him and his longtime woman friend from Woodland Hills days to dinner. It was nice. As we parted in the parking lot I said; ‘Oh Steve, I really do love you’. That’s not something I say often and to another man. But I meant it and I’m glad I said it.

Steve was special, and a very high level mentality. A friendly man with a high spirit and intellectual curiosity. I never saw Steve angry or mean. A better person than myself which made him someone I wanted to know. Thinking back, it was Mark who introduced me to Steve. I think I ran across those two on the Embarcadero and it was one of the best meetings of my life. Steve was great to be around. He would sometimes read me his daily ’Statement’, short writings on a topic of his interest on that day. He had the highest skill of language, ideas and construction. I remember going with him one day to visit his father. I could not communicate with his dad, but I observed Steve’s love toward him. Steve was a kind man. Also very sensitive. He was a major person in my life for nearly 10 years. Knowing a person like Steve makes life worthwhile. - Tim W.