Perhaps I knew Steve longer than anyone still alive except my older sister Janet, who also knew him from birth. I was born a year before Steve and his Dad was the brother of my Mother. Therefore, he was my first cousin. In reality, I knew him since he was born, but don't really have any remembrance until about age 6. We spent a lot of time each year in Port Jervis where my grandparents were and several uncles and aunts. As we grew up, I was always the one in trouble. Somehow, Steve managed to be the perfect boy, as my mother constantly reminded me. I didn't mind, since I knew Steve was not as perfect as my mother thought he was. All during our teen years, we stayed pretty close as our families gathered in Port Jervis quite a bit and also spent some summer weeks at the shore in Ocean City, N.J. Later, my wife and I traveled to Port Jervis quite a bit as well. Then I got all caught up in a career, as Steve did also, as well as raising our own children. We also lived great distances apart. Therefore, for a number of years, we had little interaction outside of the annual Christmas card, as well as at weddings and funerals. When Steve and Lucie moved to The Villages in Florida, we were able to reconnect since we moved to nearby Tampa many years prior. After that, we were able to see them 3 or 4 times a year. We were able to play some golf, but generally spent the time having a beer or two and reminiscing over our younger days in Port Jervis. When Steve told us he thought he had lung cancer early in 2013, it was devestating news. However, he attacked it in good spirits with a great attitude. It was early in April that we last shared a meal with them in the Villages. His appetite was great and you woudn't know anything was wrong with him. Unfortunately, not many weeks later, when we got home from a cruise, we learned he was in the hospital and then a nursing home when I got to visit him again. Shortly thereafter, things moved fast and he was in the Hospice home for only a short time. My wife and I will miss him and Lucie. We will always remember the wonderful times we had with them both. A BIG piece of my past died with him and I will cherish the times we had together for as long as I am aive.