Stephen Patrick Ahearn 10/28/1957 08/23/2020
Stephen's music Orangewood Ave late '60s to '77Stephen's music after the mid-70sKeep in touch!: stpah57@gmail.com
Our family's intention in creating this site is to celebrate Stephen's life as our loving brother, brother in law, uncle, friend, traveler, activist, and proud Irishman. We have also placed a formal obituary in the Arizona Republic. On this site we would like all of Stephen's family and friends to feel encouraged to contribute memories, stories, pictures, videos and music. As many of us know, Stephen was not someone whose personality, talents, interests and contributions can be easily summed up. It's our family's hope that together, and with your input, we can more fully represent the complex, generous and interesting individual we loved so much.
Stephen was born in Tucson, AZ to John Littleton Ahearn and Irene Walsh Ahearn. He grew up in Phoenix, the second oldest of six siblings, where he quickly matured into a central figure in a big family with strong Irish American roots. Stephen's first friendships and interests developed with the "Orangewood gang" and then on to Madison Meadows Elementary School where a great many lifelong friends and connections were established.
As a young teenager Stephen assembled a remarkable collection of 60’s and early 70’s rock music - John Mayall, Moody Blues, Cream, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, Elton John - these were just some of his favorite artists that could be heard in our home during the early-to-mid 70s. We all loved his choices and still associate this music with that time in our lives.
At Central High School he became a popular figure on campus. He played football, served in student government and discovered his love of the French language. As soon as he turned 16, he began working at Carnation Ice Cream Restaurant with many high school buddies who also became lifelong friends.
In 1976 Stephen enrolled in Pomona College. There he developed more lifelong friendships and furthered his interests in languages and international concerns. He was a fraternity member, a football player, a radio station manager and ultimately completed his bachelors degree in International Relations with a thesis written on the topic of Irish History and Politics. His exposure to 80’s music and in particular local bands exploded, and his enthusiasm for this time and especially the punk rock scene never wavered. His knowledge of the people, places and times was outstanding. It was always a welcome topic for discussion.
Stephen's interests in Europe and international travel took root during these early college years. In his early 20s he was off traveling about Europe on a Eurail pass taking him through France, Spain, Italy and Greece. He continued on through Turkey and Egypt - it was the first of his many great adventures. As a young man Stephen made contacts easily and with an effort to learn local languages and their dialects. He did this with enthusiasm, maturity and ease - a combination which fostered a unique ability to connect quickly with new acquaintances wherever he went. Stephen was impressive in this regard - he maintained this ability to create and revisit meaningful connections throughout his life.
After Pomona Stephen enrolled in the Graduate Business program at UCLA where he received his MBA and settled in the LA area. He lived there with friends in Highland Park, Venice Beach, Brentwood and San Pedro. He worked with Xerox for some time and moved on to become interested in more environmentally friendly pursuits.
Arizona beckoned Stephen back to live and work in the late 1980s. In keeping with his environmental interests, he co-founded companies that manufactured non-toxic environmentally- sensitive pesticides, building materials and recycled plastic products. In 1990 he joined the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office as the Manager of Planning and Policy. At that time he was responsible for the implementation of the legislatively-mandated Energy Policy. By 1994, Stephen was writing and speaking extensively about electric industry restructuring.Three years later he was hired at the Corporation Commission to advise the staff on electric industry competitive matters , and to be that agency's liaison to the legislature. In 1999 he resigned the Commission office to follow in his father's footsteps, and run for the office of Corporation Commissioner. Governor Janet Napolitano appointed Stephen as Director of the Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO). As Director of RUCO Stephen worked tirelessly on behalf of consumers, and to promote renewable energy and sustainability. He continued with Energy Policy concerns as a contractor until the time of his multiple myeloma diagnosis in January of 2013 at which point his life took a sudden and unexpected detour.
Throughout his life , Stephen enjoyed traveling and adventure. As an avid motorcyclist for many years he hiked, backpacked, camped, fished and explored throughout the Southwest, and extensively in California, and along the Pacific Coast. In June 2009 Stephen embarked on a motorcycle trip across the United States and into Canada visiting friends and family all along the way. Internationally, Stephen added India as a favorite destination along with Ireland and France. His love for India also enhanced his already skillful cooking, and he became quite adept at Indian cuisine.
At his home in Phoenix Stephen became a gentleman farmer growing a backyard full of beautiful vegetables, and cultivating fruit trees. However, his most successful agricultural endeavor was the nurturing of fig trees from clippings of figs from all over the world. Many family members and friends received gifts of these precious fig trees.
Stephen’s difficult and very long battle with multiple myeloma lasted 7 years, and the toll of his many therapies, surgeries and procedures was high. 2020 proved formidable with multiple hospitalizations beginning in January . No further treatments available to him, he chose to move to Tucson with family and begin hospice.
Stephen passed in peace, deeply loved with his family around him on August 23rd.
Stephen is survived by his sisters: Mary A. Lee (Richard), Denise Ahearn, and Kathleen Johnson (Jeff) brothers: John Ahearn, and Michael Ahearn ( Patty) Nieces: Christine, Andrea, Lillie and Arbor, Nephews: Gabriel and Alejandro, and great-nephews Jonathan and Nathaniel.
