I've met a lot of smart people in my life. I've met a lot of kind people and I've met a lot of funny people. And Steven was smart, he had a great sense of humor, and he was a kind person. He had all those qualities to be sure.
But I haven't met a lot of brave people in my life and Steven was probably the bravest person I've ever known. In the face of adversity, he always stood tall and never backed away from a fight. He always faced every hardship with grace, fortitude, and equanimity.
Of course, every superhero has a secret weapon and Steven's was Renee. She was there for him in every way, taking care of him and encouraging him to fight on. His constant companion and source of strength.
Whenever I've thought of him, I've thought of his fighting spirit. He was a fighter all his life, as those closest to him can attest to. Like the prize fighter who gets knocked down, but gets up every time to continue the fight and learns from every hard fought victory. That's the way he lived his life.
As long as I have known him, he's always reminded me of the song written by Paul Simon entitled The Boxer that brings to mind his toughness and his tenacity. I never knew way back then, how relevant that song would become over time, but I always thought that the lyrics in one of the verses fit Steven so well and epitomized his fighting spirit. The verse I often think of goes like this.
"In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his pain
'I am leaving, I am leaving'
But the fighter still remains."
But the fighter still remains. This is the gift he has left us. His fighting spirit, his will to go on in the face of hardship, his determination to never give up. He fought the good fight and set an example for us all. He'll remind us, and give us strength, in our darkest hours to fight that good fight. And for this greatest gift, and much more, we thank him.
