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In memory of
Stephen Alexander Inge
September 22, 1979 - May 2, 2021
Sep 22, 1979 - May 2, 2021
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Stephen's obituary
Stephen attended St. Agnes School and Yorktown High School in Arlington. He was a closing baseball pitcher in the Babe Ruth League and at Yorktown.
Within two years of high school graduation, Stephen began a series of surgeries, recoveries, annual MRIs and scans spanning the next 23 years of his life, due to a very rare condition called Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) syndrome. Every cell in the body has two VHL genes, which prevent tumor growth. Stephen and others with VHL have a mutation to one of those VHL genes. Since the gene does not function properly, tumors may grow in up to 10 different parts of the body throughout the person’s life. Some tumors are benign such as those in the brain, spinal cord, and retinas. Others in the visceral organs such as the kidneys can become malignant, so VHL is included among the 100 or more diseases categorized as cancer.
A rare disease is defined as one affecting up to 200,000 people, according to Genetic and Rare Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. Only 10,000 people have VHL. A parent with VHL has a 50% chance of passing it along to a child; however, 20% of the total VHL cases are de novo cases. This means the VHL gene mutated spontaneously and was not inherited from either parent. Stephen was in this group, one of 2,000 cases in the country.
Members of the Arlington County medical community, especially those affiliated with Virginia Hospital Center and PMA Health, became very important people in Stephen’s life. He developed caring relationships with his surgeons, doctors, nurses, therapists, imaging technicians, and others. He introduced humor into nearly every appointment and medical event in order to put those at ease who faced his serious medical issues.
Thanks to work with the Skelly Family in Clarendon, Stephen learned the “Lovaas Method” a highly individualized educational system to teach kids with special learning needs, such as those with autism. He worked with Patrick Skelly and followed him to Arlington County Public schools where Stephen became a teacher’s assistant. This enabled him to work with several special needs students. Stephen was a natural at helping these kids and did so for many months before another surgery prevented him from this work. His interest in how children learn and behave continued for the rest of his life.
“Burns” Stephen’s alias at the music venue IOTA Club & Cafe, worked part time for several years as an administrative assistant to his mother Jane and uncle Stephen. He helped with the phones and messages, assisted in advancing shows with musicians, and helped out at the front desk.
Stephen developed keen interests in psychology, concepts of religion, and horticulture. He created a bright spot in Clarendon on Franklin Road in the summer of 2018, calling the potting and repotting of plants the best occupational therapy ever.
Stephen was an avid hometown sports fan and was proud that big respect finally came to Washington DC
with The Capitals’ Stanley Cup win and the Nationals’ World Series win.
In Richmond Virginia, Stephen is survived by his father, Barclay Inge, his wife Victoria and her daughter Metta Bastet and son Sayon Winston; by his sister Emily Hein, her husband John and their sons Wyatt and Reed; by his brother Ryan Inge, his wife Candace and their son Bowers; and Emily and Ryan’s mother Anne Inge. Stephen was overjoyed to spend time with his three new nephews, Wyatt, Reed and Bowers.
In Arlington, Stephen is survived by his mother, Jane Negrey Inge and her brothers and sisters who were Stephen’s core Negrey family: Stephen “Unc” Negrey and Aunt Helen “Booder” Negrey Long and her daughter Casey and son Patrick; Uncle John Negrey and his son Matthew and daughter Madelyn of New Jersey; and Aunt Christine Negrey Azevedo and her daughters Stephanie and Laura of Connecticut.
From across the country, Stephen is survived by many beloved friends. He was especially appreciative of his closest friends and their families, Andrew Reierson, Brendan McNulty, Peter Egge, Paul Egge, Josh Martin, Will Schneider, and Olivia Shilling.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Stephen’s name to the VHL Alliance, fighting for a cure for cancer. Go to www.VHL.org. Appreciation also goes out to the Alliance staff for helping with the description of Von Hippel Lindau syndrome.
Stephen’s friends are hosting a memorial event--a casual outdoor gathering on Saturday afternoon, May 15, 2021 on the Knights of Columbus grounds in Arlington. Go to www.everloved.com/memorial/st… , and click the events tab for more information.
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$10,700.00
of $10,000 goal
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Recent contributions
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Ceremonial Event expenses.
$10,700.00
of $10,000 goal
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
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Created with love by
Andrew Reierson (Stephen's friend),
Brendan McNulty,
Barclay Inge and
Jane Negrey Inge (Stephen's mother).
