Terrible news from Washington.

Heartfelt condolences to all feeling this tragic loss.

Well, shit.  

Condolences to family and friends.  Suggest adding a note to the forum Calendar and possibly a push notification/message, for future observance if the forum carries on.

Just read the terrible news,My condolences to family and friends

Terrible news
My condolences to family and friends !

This was really sad to hear!

From what those of you who knew him are telling and from the way he acted on the Ghetto, he must have been a very special person!
Strange how some of us who never met him, still feels that we have lost a friend...
I think this shows how important a forum like this can be to us members, - provided it is managed the way this one has been!
I think we owe it to Steve to try and keep his spirit alive in the GRiSO Ghetto.

I guess those of you who were his closest friends, were exactly that for a reason, and you are probably the best to continue and manage his legacy.
But you would need help.

Rest in peace Steve, and warm thoughts are sent to your closest Friends and Family!

So very sad, rubbish news.

Like so many of us, I considered Steve one of my closest friends and I am having a hell of a time getting my head straight around this one. Every time it begins to sink in, I'm hit with another wave of grief and disbelief.

Some of my fondest memories are of Steve, Karl, Greg and myself riding together with Greg in the lead, showing us the best line to take, when to apply a little brake, how to get the most out of a nice twisty course – Greg made all three of us better riders.

That experience and that skill-building may have saved us a time or two.

One day, Steve, Karl and I took a ride over to the Olympic Peninsula and we were loving the day, carving up the curves as a perfectly synchronized unit, braking, accelerating and leaning in perfect harmony all day long. When we stopped for gas in Port Angeles, I mentioned that we had just crossed a street called Del Guzzi Drive a few blocks back and we should make a point of stopping on the way home to take a picture of the Guzzis all lined up in front of that sign. We all agreed it was a great idea and we continued on to Neah Bay, ate some lunch and rode back towards PA again. Steve was in front as we pulled into town, followed by me with Karl close behind. At the first stop light, I signaled to Steve and tried to yell over the rumble of the engines and the music playing inside his helmet, but he just shrugged his shoulders and mouthed, “I can't hear you”. The light turned green and we proceeded on to the next one where again, I tried to get his attention to remind him to stop and get that picture of us on Del Guzzi. Again, he shrugged, more frustratedly this time, and shook his head as the light turned green. The next light was coming up fast. Suddenly, a flash of understanding snapped across the synapses of Steve's brain as he glanced up and saw the sign, Del Guzzi Drive. “Oh, shit! Now I know what Pete was trying to tell me!”, he thought, as he slammed on the brakes of his 1200 GRiSO. “Oh FUCK!” I said to myself with bile rising in my throat, “I hope I can stop without running over him or crashing both of our bikes.” I leaned out over the handlebars to peek at my front tire as the brakes locked up and we came skidding to a stop, upright still, with my front just about to kiss his rear. In the next moment, I looked up at my mirrors to see Karl skidding to a panic stop behind me. Thank the Guzzi Gods that none of us went down, but our hearts were racing and we knew we'd just dodged a catastrophe. We never bothered to stop and take that picture, but we composed the headline that surely would have appeared in the next day's edition of the Peninsula Daily News: “Three Guzzi Pile-up on Del Guzzi Road!”

Sadly, we will never have another chance to take our picture at that spot, or any other. I have dozens of pictures of Steve on rides and at camp-outs, drinking Scotch on our patio, working on our bikes in my studio, helping me with countless of my projects and enjoying live music together. A month ago, I installed my latest project in Selah and Steve rode his GRiSO over from Moses Lake to help me for the day. It was brutally hot, at least 100º, but we had a great day together and got the job done. At the end of the day, Steve saddled up and rode to Randle to spend the weekend at the Deep Forest camp-out. And then, just two weeks ago, Steve and Starr and Esther and I and a couple of other friends of Steve's, Ed and Warren and his wife, sat together on the lawn at Marymoor Park to watch Alison Kraus and Robert Plant perform. Wonderful. The last memory I have of Steve alive is giving me one of his patented bear hugs as we packed up to leave the show and an exchange of, “I love you, Brother – I love you too, Brother”.

I miss him already, something fierce, every day.

Jellybean is going to miss him dearly too.

That is a beautiful and funny story!!  Thanks Street!  

Respects we had a few verbal engagments on the ghetto and PM's, he was good to me as far as this place goes gave respect and deserves it. Rest in peace mate you will surely be missed.

Thanks for sharing that. One of a thousand stories I'm sure you guys could tell about Steve.

I have some information about a viewing on Friday. If anyone would like that, please PM me. A more elaborate celebration of life will happen at some point down the road, but Starr and the family will need some time. I'll do my best to keep everyone informed.

As for the future of the Ghetto, that is another project that will require some time to sort out. Steve's brother is quite savvy with confusers and figures he may be able to work through some of the technicalities in due time. With his help on the technical side, I may be willing to nominate myself to take on the moderating/management duties as a way to honor my dear friend, but for now, much grieving has yet to be done.

Thanks Pete. Raise a glass for me at the wake.

I haven't contacted Starr yet. I will, but I'm thinking she will have her hands full right now and doesn't need the hassle of replying to strangers from half a world away.....

Very sad to read this.

Best to all

Very sad news. I passed it on to Michael Adams (Dungeon master) who used to be on here.

Well poop. Heard the news via a heads up on Facebook. Popped in here to confirm (did not look forward to that). Only knew him through this forum - good people.

A virtual hug to all his good buddies.

RIP

Very sorry to have read the news over the last week on a couple of sites. It seems to be a bad week with a few other riders passing away recently this week. My deep condolences for his family and friends...he seemed like a fantastic friend, hoping that time provides solace to his loved ones.

Condolences to friends and family. Seemed like a good friend to many. And one that had no problems stepping up to help out his fellow man.

I had completely forgotten about this video until Karl sent it to me last night. So, enough tears for today, how about a glimpse of a younger Steve being his silly self and enjoying life as he did right up until the end.

That is a hoot. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Pete. That's fantastic.

Incredibly funny. Great to get a glimpse of his personality even if it’s from 1987.
Thanks for sharing.

Dashed up to Moses Lake,WA after lunch yesterday to pay respects.

Lovely family. Lovely partner. Lovely friends.

Their note below summarizes a life well lived by a guy loved by many. The happy photo in front is particularly apt, having been taken shortly before Steve's demise.

Thank you for posting that, Jin.

A great tribute.

Very sad news indeed. Death can come to any of us at any time.