Posted by Bill Thomas on March 31, 2013:

The following are some excerpts from a letter I sent to Steve prior to his passing. I had been listening to his wonderful CD, "Thin Ice" and it brought back to me many fond memories of our time together in B-2 during Plebe and Yearling years. Here are the excerpts: "Thin Ice has proved to be another magical musical experience for me. I've played it for both family and friends. All agree it is a wonderful piece of artistry. I had a couple of navy guys over for New Years Eve and they were truly blown away. Steve, it's hard to believe that it's been over 45 years since we first met in B-2. I recall fondly the times that you played the guitar for us. It inspired me to get my own guitar in Yearling year and to learn some of the rudiments of the instrument. My wife, Lyn, took up the instrument when we lived in Denver in the early to mid '70's. She still plays her Yamaha Acoustic from time to time although now she has progressed to a Concert harp -- an instrument that has me truly baffled. I guess it's like playing a piano stood on its end. Anyway, your inspiration has wended its way through my family. In fact, my youngest son Michael plays in a "cover band" in Spokane. He's pretty talented and has settled on the Bass guitar as his instrument of choice. I'm not sure any of this would have happened without that little bit of inspiration you gave me so many years ago. You never know the lives you will touch. Music is such a wonderful form of expression and I am thankful that my family enjoys it so. I know that you are in a tough battle right now. Your '66 friends are thinking of you every day. I'm secretly hoping there might be another CD inside that head of yours. If there is I'll be first in line to get one." Sadly Steve never produced that next CD. I will always remember him as a young man full of life and always with a song on his lips. You will be missed, my friend.

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