Thursday, January 12, 2017
To Joanne and family,
My heart hangs heavy after hearing the news of Steve’s passing. Though I only knew him through association, the Seymour boys of Birch Cove always spoke very highly of Steve which made me think very highly of him in return.
When I was just a wee lad, Steve took my father Glenn, myself and my brother Darryl on a tour of the ship he was serving on while it was docked in the Halifax Harbour. Steve’s knowledge and personable, welcoming nature are what I remember most. I have never forgotten how special our little, personal tour made me feel. As a young guy, it was one of those character-shaping-memories that got filed under ‘keep’.
In more recent years, my spouse, Karen Lizotte and I were driving back home to Beaver Bank along the Cobequid Bay. We pulled over in Noel to enjoy the sights. Well, it didn’t take long for a friendly stranger to walk up and introduce himself. The three of us continued chatting, trying to find a common interest when I brought up Steve and Joanne, knowing they lived in the surrounding area. Well… wouldn’t you know it, just a mention of Steve’s name put a big smile on this stranger’s face! He continued with, “…around these parts, Steve is known as ‘The Mayor of Gore’!” Why wasn’t I surprised?
…and then there’s today. Reminiscing with my mother, brother Darryl and Karen about Steve. I had to admit to them that there aren’t many people that I’d just… …get a hankering to pick up the phone and check in with. Now, the phone calls were never long or as often as I would have liked… but Steve was one of those people that I’d want to make time for… …to just pick up the phone to say, “Hi! I was just thinkin’ of ya’…” That might be because… to what I saw throughout my life, he always seemed to bring out the best in people, that always seemed so natural for him. No matter who you were, you could be yourself. That says a lot about a man’s character.
I’ll miss our little check-ins… …but I’ll still be thinkin’ of ya’, Steve.
