The world continues to be less without you and you are missed every day.

Dear Sue, think about you and Steve so often. It is hard to express this loss. Love, Deb and Jim

Sue and Steve were soulmates for sure, and forever! Love is eternal!❤️❤️

We miss you every day. 

Dear Sue, thinking of you today and remembering Steve’s wisdom, kindness and wit. Love, Deb and Jim

Will forever miss you. Wishing you were here to celebrate your birthday and your life.
Phyllis & John

Thinking of both Sue and Steve today with fond memories and love. Love, Deb and Jim Harrington

Happy Birthday to you, forever with us. We are always hiking on an adventure with you and Sue in our mind and heart. John & Phyllis

Steve was my God Father, and I can’t even put into words what he meant to me. He was one of the best persons I ever met. Despite my military service not lining up with his life story, I have always had enormous respect and love for him.

I spent a month with Sue and Steve in the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, and I learned what a great life looks like. We hiked some of the 14’ers in Colorado, which left me exhausted (being a flat lander), but Steve drove us home as if we just took a walk around the neighborhood.

His stamina was just a glimpse into how beautiful he was as a person. The day I heard of him passing was probably the saddest day of my life. I wept for hours, and that is a hard admission for a grown, war hardened man to make. I miss you Steve!

Steve
     Lover of the outdoors
     Lover of the theater
      Lover of magic
          and most of all
             Lover of Sue

From the early days of intensive care units in New York City where we learned to together; to ski trips in the Northeast; to a time when our lives went separate ways while you all pursued your dreams in Colorado and we ours in NY and Massachusetts; to time together again in Tucson, NYC, Hancock and Colorado, we forged a friendship that would last forever. 

We will miss you Steve. Our memories together are forever: skiing, hiking, the theater, traveling, dining ( in and out ), sharing book reads, and just plain, wonderful conversation. We admired and respected you so much. 
See you on the flip side!

Sue our hearts are full for you. We will travel with you as you find your way
John & Phyllis

Sue is my special cousin and I grew up with her and her brother Don. Her Mom and Dad were exceptional people and parents. That Sue could find such an exceptional soulmate is no surprise. Steve as well as her father had integrity, compassion and kindness.(also courage and humor) I just wish that life would have given us more time to spend with them.
Barbara Mateyka Hug

Dear Sue,
I am saddened to hear of Steve's passing. His calm, compassionate nature was a great comfort for me. I know he will be missed by you. You both had such a special partnership in adventure. My deepest condolences.
Susan

   David and I met Steve and Sue 48 years ago when Steve and I started medical school together. We lived in the same apartment building in Brookline, Massachusetts. It certainly was an anxious time for me, and walking home with Steve many days helped to keep me sane. So this is how I always think of Steve, a calming presence in everyone’s life.
   We are heartbroken to hear that Steve has passed. We did not know that he had COVID and our hearts go out to Sue and their family members and close friends who had to endure that knowledge hoping that he would be one of the lucky ones. I was thinking of Steve the afternoon we heard the news, thinking that maybe we could travel again soon and visit him and Sue in Tucson. That COVID robbed the world of his presence is devastating.
   Steve was gentle, funny, kind, and brilliant. We enjoyed Steve and Sue’s friendship while together in Boston, and loved following their lives with their annual holiday letters. We feel blessed for the few times we were able to see them over the years, and each time it felt like we were picking up right where we had left off before. Never any awkwardness or being ill-at-ease. We are so sad that we will not see him again.
   I think Steve would appreciate this thought: Let us raise a glass of good wine in his memory (perhaps, for Sue, a Syrah), and be thankful for having had him in our lives.
                             David and Lynne Bookhout

Sue & I became best of friends in college and shared an apartment in New Haven, CT where we had our first jobs as staff nurses at Yale-New Haven Medical Center. In 1969, Sue moved to NYC and I moved back to upstate NY and she began working at NYU Medical Center. It was clearly one of the best decisions Sue ever made because it was there that she met Steve who would become the love of her life. I first met him on a visit to New York and quickly learned to love his quick wit, his passionate and compassionate politics, and the way he made my best friend laugh. Over the years, it has been a joy to watch their lives together unfold both personally and professionally from their sequential medical school days, to their world travels, and very recently their truly admirable work at the Casa Alitas program. Our visits with Sue & Steve always meant time outdoors in beautiful places, great food and wine, and lots of laughter and we are sorry beyond words that he is gone from our lives. He was a very special man who made the world around him a better, brighter, more caring place and he left us way too early.

Imitation may be the best form of flattery. And so is respect.
Steve Thompson’s life reflected his uncompromising principles, courage, intellect, and kindness. He lived his life fully as a highly educated physician, world traveler, cyclist, wine and food connoisseur, baker, cook, and humanitarian. He always provided good and interesting company.  Steve lived a successful, curious and remarkable life. There was much to imitate and respect. 
Janelle and Fred Menick

Dear Sue,

As Julie was addressing a note of condolence from she and Steve and Dan and Jeannie she made the observation that to address something to just you "is just not right”. She said that it has always been “Sue and Steve” and anything other than that is very sad. Your relationship made an impact on our kids. We couldn’t agree more with her thought. It was heartbreaking to hear of Steve’s passing. It prompted Deb and I to reflect on how important both of you have been in our lives. 

Deb reflects back to working with you at the West Rox VA, your inspiration, your work ethic and meeting Steve for the first time. One of her most fond memories of Steve was his sense of humor and dry witty comments. We remembered the impacts you and he had on us while living in Boston. Introducing new and different foods like Retsina wine, sweet and sour soup and Red Zinger tea. I am forever indebted to Steve for suggesting to look at the pediatric residency at CU. We thought about the night you guys “bugged out” of Boston on your way to Colorado with water pouring out of the ceiling light fixture. 

Following you guys to Colorado and putting us up with a 4 month old Dan while we were house hunting. Deb remembers dinner at Footers, putting Dan under the table in his infant seat and enjoying the time together. Spending time together skiing, enjoying dinners or going to Hot Rize concerts. Deb remembers going to your medical school graduation “heavily pregnant with Julie”. Having Steve there for Julie’s delivery was reassuring to both of us. Knowing our kids were in great hands with Steve as their pediatrician was also tremendously comforting. The only bit of advice we may have disagreed with was when Steve told us to take Julie for a ride in the car to see if it helped with colic … “but not to drive too close to your house”.

We appreciated your presence at our kids weddings and being able to pick up where we last left off like it was yesterday. In light of Steve’s passing we are very thankful to have been able to spend time with you both in September and spend time with the finer things in life like food, wine, hiking and time with such great friends.

We will all miss Steve deeply. He was a remarkable, caring and devoted human being. We feel fortunate to have been able to call both you and Steve friends. We will never forget “Sue and Steve”.

The Harrington Family

Steve was a hero of mine. I volunteered to go to Viet Nam when I was drafted but was sent to Texas.
I only came to realize this when I was a classmate of Sue’s when I talked to Steve and realized that what he had endured was much harsher than most of my fellow soldiers had endured
Sue and Steve became the godparents of my son, Jacob, and asked me if it was important to me if they should have religion to accept this responsibility. I told them no. They should only guide him toward integrity. That was all that I asked for from my children. Sue and Steve had integrity in spades. Jacob is medically retired and has a Purple Heart.
I love both of them and stand ready to help in any way
Martin Anderson
Scarborough, ME

Dear Sue:
I had no idea that Steve was sick. I am utterly shocked and dismayed that he is gone from you and sooooooo many people who loved him so extremely. I will forever bear witness to what a special man he was and what a special couple you both created. I really loved him as an amazing human being. I loved the yearly Christmas updates; they were so well-written, newsy and personal. I am failing to offer any comfort because I am so affected by this news. I can just imagine what you are feeling. I am so sorry. Those words may seem empty but they are to be said. Sorrow, sadness, pain, broken...all words but none sufficient to acknowledge such a loss of a great soul from this earth. My tears won’t stop. I AM SORRY and I love you and wish you peace and comfort. I AM SO SORRY. Love, love, and more love from me/us. Kathleen Hodges and Jonathan Hodges