Steve Freese
June 03, 1948 - November 12, 2014
- Share:
Steve Freese
June 03, 1948 - November 12, 2014
Obituary
“Steve Freese, what a handsome guy.” A direct quote from the song he wrote and often sang about himself, and deeply felt by all that knew him. He had baby blue eyes and a magnetic smile, but was even more handsome of heart and spirit.
Steve’s battle with cancer came to and end on November 12th 2014 with his wife, three daughters and friends from near and far at his bedside. He made them laugh until the end; stating with a whisper that he had “FOMO” (fear of missing out) when the morphine tempted him to sleep. He was so endearing that the nurses would linger in his hospital room to hear his stories and cried with his children when it was time to leave.
Though Steve had a great deal of accomplishments, his greatest accomplishment was showing us all how to truly embrace life.
Steve always found joy in the smallest things; like the flag waving on a hillside, the smell of fresh coffee, or picking up a loved one from the airport. Steve lived a spiritual life: he fed the homeless, built houses for the poor and was kind and generous to everyone he ever encountered from the local pharmacist to the little kids in the neighborhood. He had an old fashioned sense of ethics and chivalry: he believed in the truth, fairness and protecting those weaker than himself. He had a huge number of friends because he made new friends everywhere: on a walk in the harbor or a trip to Costco. His creativity was legendary: he created ditties to the beat of his car’s blinker; he initiated a whole plane load of strangers to sing Christmas carols on a flight home on Christmas Eve. His sincere smile welcomed all to his home and, if lucky, he provided a honky-tonk song before they left. Steve made friends wherever he went in life, and he never lost a single one along the way.
As a Dad, he taught us to “buck up” when life was tough, but held us tenderly when we just couldn’t. He taught us the virtues of being honest, humble, tender, funny, and how to tell a good joke. His secret was to keep telling it over and over again. Once they stop laughing tell it one more time and then laugh hardily at yourself. Though his voice was strained at the end, his laugh could be heard and felt by so many.
His last wish was to go out laughing. Though our hearts are broken and there is an awful hole left behind, we ask you all to laugh a little harder and a little more often at life. And when the laughing stops, laugh one more time for Steve.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Lungevity.org for lung cancer research.
11 responses to Steve Freese
Jack says:
November 19, 2014
Dear Steve, you were the best friend to me.The best memory was when we colored and you watched us. And I’m so, so, so thankful for you Steve. I love you. Love, Jack Markel
Sarah Hopkins says:
November 19, 2014
Every time we had a chance to spend time with Steve and Lolly was such a treat! We will miss him and his magnetic personality. Lots of love and hugs to you Lolly and the girls. Sarah and Mitchell
Corine Renardel de Lavalette Burgorgue says:
November 20, 2014
I can’t remember ever seeing Steve in a bad mood!
He’s one of the most fun loving guys I ever met!
His jokes…kodak bofus?, looks bad…feels good…and a lot more of course, and his guitar songs
«will he ever return» and «Alice’s Restaurant» around the campfire in Bouzic! Such good memories!
Even though we didn’t see each other very often, being in Europe, every time was a concentration of happiness that still lingers on!
Thanks for the fun memories! I’ll miss you
love Ze Big Corine
Paul Renardel de Lavalette says:
November 20, 2014
Steve, my special buddy-
It’s such a crying shame that you didn’t manage to pull off this last Houdini act we all had been rooting for.
We shall all miss your positive compassionate fun loving gregarious personality and your fantastically contagious laugh.
I shall always cherish the good times we spent together, albeit they unfortunately were too few and far between.
Obviously, my heart so goes out to your lovely Lady Lolly and your three sweet daughters who will so be missing her dear husband and their great dad.
May you rest in peace.
Ann Glassmoyer says:
November 21, 2014
Thinking of Steve makes me smile as he was one of the happiest people I’ve ever known. He brought joy wherever he went and was a friend to so many. I hope his legacy of love and laughter will be of special comfort to Lolly, Corine, Shawna and Alexa.