| For those of you who missed the 30th reunion, Steve had been battling cancer and had just had hip surgery about a month or so ago. He had planned to make the reunion picnic. He had all of his memorabilia out and ready and had enjoyed the email. He was very excited about the reunion and working hard to rehabilitate to come. We received word at the picnic that Steve had slipped into a full coma. His wife came to the picnic and told us how much Steve was looking forward to seeing everyone and also that they were letting nature take it's course with his life at this time. Steve was diagnosed with cancer a year ago April. He had trouble urinating one day and so he went to the doctor thinking it was kidney stone or some such thing. They found cancer in his kidneys and it was already into his bones and lungs. He was determined to beat it and tried many things, some of which were very uncomfortable and made him quite ill, but he persevered He had at least had knee surgery and hip surgery. JoEllen, Steve's wife, visited the reunion picnic Saturday and said he was so looking forward to the reunion and that was all he had been talking about for some time. Many of us had talked to Steve several times online and he never let on that he was this bad. He would usually give a vague answer and change the subject when asked about his illness. The way he talked about the reunion, and coming and all, I think everyone assumed he was doing pretty well. This has all really surprised and saddened all of us. Steve's brain hemorrhaged and he went into a coma from which he never awoke. He died peacefully Sunday morning July 23, 2000 at 10:15AM .
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