It’s still so hard to believe that you’re gone, buddy. Losing you was like losing a close family member because you were always there. There to do a favor. There to remind me of someone’s birthday (mostly yours) and just THERE. I’m glad we had you as long as we did but it wasn’t nearly long enough. Rest In Peace my friend.

Those we love don’t go away. 
They walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard but always near.
Still loved, still missed and always dear.

I pray that today, in honor of your birthday, you send signs to Christa that you are always with her! ❌⭕️❌⭕️

Happy 59th Birthday my Love. I’m spending your special day remembering the 33 years of this day with you. The pictures and videos just aren’t enough. I just wish for some kind of sign from you, let me know you’re ok, you’re happy, you’re with our family members, all celebrating you in the way you deserve. That would give me some peace to get through today. You are so missed, I hope I’m making you proud, I promise to always keep your memory alive, I just wish I couldn’t kept you alive down here with the so many people that miss you so much. The support I have gotten from so many, you’d be happy about. You always knew how to chose the right and best people in your life. Those same people have been very helpful for me to deal with my biggest loss. Happy Birthday, I will love you forever, till I’m in your arms again.

September 13, 2019

Received this from Steve’s Dentist, Joe. Had to share.

Christa, yes I was at the Wake, but I did not speak to anyone.
I couldn’t.
I saw you there, surrounded by people trying to console you. I knelt by Steve, held his arm, said a prayer, cried, and left.
I know of no words that are good enough to say to you that can even begin to help you with your pain.
Steve was very special to me, I’m sure that everyone else felt the same way.
I met Steve over thirty years ago and we bonded instantly, and stayed that way. He was, is, a very special person.
Every year he reached out to me for my birthday, Fathers’ Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
EVERY year.
About a year ago, on no special occasion, he sent a two page email to my children telling them what a special, loving father that they have. It was supposed to be secret, but my daughter felt that it was so beautiful that she had to show me. That was Steve. I loved him.
My heart breaks for you, I know how much he loved you.
Everyone who knew him carries a piece of Steve in them, I will carry mine for as long as I live.

Aruba 2018
Shared by Stacy Martin on October 13, 2019


My husband Vic & I met this couple last year in Aruba. We hit it off very quickly and spent the rest of our vacation with them. You could see how much they love each other that it was just beautiful to watch them be together. Only knowing Steve for a very short time, was an amazing experience. He was a gentle giant with a big heart and a true soul! He was funny and sincere, and the kind of person you’d want in your life! We will always remember this trip and cherish the time we spent with them, it was an honor meeting Steve and he will be missed and never forgotten.

Uncle Ruff!!! ❤️
Shared by Joy Xhudo on October 13, 2019

Dear Uncle Ruff,

We miss you more then you know....your laugh, your big hugs, your stroll into the family room, you sleeping over watching movies with us and playing games! We haven’t been able to watch the Greatest Showman since you left us because we know how much you loved it and loved watching it with us. Mikey says it all the time how you would always sing the songs with him...we play ‘1 million dreams’ a lot and think of you! ❤️ Gianni says your name all the time, especially when a airplane passes in the sky. ✈️ He points up and says hi uncle Steve...he thinks your coming back soon, how we all wish that was true, he even asked us last night if you were going to be at the party. 
Today is Adriana’s 7th Birthday!!! I can’t believe your not here to share it with her.. I know you would have sent the 1st bday text then FaceTime with Atta, or you would have already been here because you probably would have slept over! Your Goddaughter will always remember you and all the things you did for her! I know you are watching over her and protecting her now. ❤️
Mom and Dad miss your big laugh and stories, hanging by the pool will never be the same but we will always have your special spot in the corner! Mom misses your funny texts you would send her..dad misses talking about sports, and the good deals at shoprite...sometimes he wants to text you to tell you.
Thanks for all the great memories we have been so lucky to share with you...it sucks that you were taken away from us this soon!
Most of all Thank you for taking such great care of our ATTA...you have always made her the happiest woman in the whole world! She loves you heart and soul here and now there...you have made her so strong and you live on in all of us Forever!!!
Until we meet again, we love you Uncle Ruff forever!! ❤️

A Passion for Compassion
Shared by Yvonne DeGuardia on October 13, 2019

My fondest memory of Steve is the true compassion he always afforded us. My family and I have traveled to Yonkers on countless occasions. It's a three hour trip sometimes grueling, sometimes not. After all the greetings, kisses, handshakes, and the "thanks-for-comings" Steve would always seek me out in some little corner and ask me how my trip truly was. He always seemed genuinely interested and concerned for our well being. He always took the time to really find out how I felt on a particular day. It's that kind of compassion and understanding that is truly rare. It was the little things that Steve thought about that most people don't.
One afternoon at a Christmas party at Rosary Hill the singer that had just finished the song "Feliz Navidad in Spanish said "...and now for the 'NORMAL' way!" and continued to sing the English chorus. While being of Hispanic descent and fluent in Spanish I just chuckled. Most people would not notice a miscue as such that. Steve did. He later approached me and put his arm around me and said "I think you're normal!" We both laughed but that memory and the comfort I felt at that moment will always be with me as he was the only one in the room that noticed the indiscretion.
We truly miss you Steve. -Yvonne, Bill and Dante.

Always Showing Up
Shared by Noelle Grieco on October 14, 2019

Yesterday we celebrated the life of a truly amazing man, my Uncle Steve. Even though he wasn't blood, he was always family to me. He was my dad's brother, my godfather, my strong protector, my crazy uncle that wore shorts in the middle of winter and preferred apple pies cold rather than straight out of the oven. He always made me feel safe and he always inspired me to be the best person I could be. He inspired me to take care of people, to watch out for everyone, to throw and hit a little bit harder than I thought possible, to do my best in school. Yesterday some people shared their favorite stories about him, but there were too many tears in my eyes to participate, so I hope you don't mind me sharing one now. I believe it was my 20th birthday and I was pretty down. I didn't have any friends in the area to celebrate with, I was missing everyone and those depressive thoughts that no one cared about me or my birthday kept making their way into my head because depression is a persistent little jerk. Anyways, when I told my mom about this the day before my birthday, she called my family, which, of course, included Uncle Steve and Aunt Christa and asked them to come over to celebrate. The next day, they were there for dinner with smiles on their faces, huge birthday hugs, and so much love that it filled the room. I just kept thinking how unbelievably lucky I am to have these people that would drop everything to come over and make me feel special and important. The most spectacular part of that story is that it is not unique. He was there for every birthday to make me feel special. He went out of his way to make the people in his life feel his love. He never missed a birthday, an anniversary, a special event of any kind. He would randomly show up at softball, volleyball, or soccer games when he had the time to cheer me on and make me play even harder to make him proud. To sum it up, he would always show up and I cannot describe how much I will miss that and how much I will always miss him. Thank you for loving me and challenging me. Thank you for helping me grow and helping me learn. Thank you for setting an amazing example for how to treat people with respect, how to be there for people, how to go out of your way to make someone else's life easier, and how to make every single person in your world feel special. I only hope that I can follow in your example and be half the amazing friend and partner that you were. I love you way more than it seems like I do in the picture. Rest in Peace Uncle Steve, love you now and always

Uncle Big.
Shared by Nicole Arena on October 18, 2019

I’ve been thinking a lot about my Uncle Steve this week. I’m not as eloquent with my words to the level that he was but here we go. Everyone who knows me and or knows our relationship knows I call him Uncle Big. For multiple reasons. Aside from the obvious reason that he was giant in size compared to my little 5’2 body, and gave big bear hugs, but he always made the smallest of things the big things. Even now when I think about him I catch myself remembering the smallest of details and moments about him that I’m sure we all knew but never really fixated on. For example my mind keeps going back to how much the man knew about shoes. Heels specifically. I would get a new pair and he would know the correct height of the heel just by looking at it. The man just knew heels. It’s strange how something we use and see everyday, a object so minuscule as a shoe, is now an item I will always look at differently. It will always make me think of him. This is only one of the thoughts crossing my mind. The biggest is my love for him, more importantly the love he brought into our lives and more specifically my Aunt Christa’s. No one deserves love more then that woman. She is the most thoughtful, selfless, loving woman I know and the way he loved her, was one of the best things I could have ever been blessed to witness. All I want for anyone in my family is for them to be happy and to be protected by those who love them. Big was the very definition of that. I miss your hugs, it was honestly my favorite greeting at every family function and they don’t feel the same without it. I use to search for you to make sure I got my giant teddy bear hug and it hurts knowing that when I search for you now I won’t physically be able to find you. I know you’re there though. Wrapping your arms around me tighter then ever before. I know your hugging me every time I wear your Hooters T-shirt that’s a dress on me I love and miss you everyday and most importantly I want to say Thank You. Thank you for loving my AuntChrista epically and unconditionally. Thank you for looking out for me when you were alive. Thank you for looking out for me after you passed.
I won’t waste the time you’ve given me.

all my love,
Little Bear.

Summer 2020 has a Huge void in our lives.. Miss you brother!

To our friend who stood so strong on his words...I hear you all the time, you remind me ‘why’ always. You still do. Steve your beautiful soul lives through us all, and for your birthday I still renew My promise to keep your loved ones loved even more, and to be fully present for them. I miss you, the greatest encouragement you gave me was to just be myself. miss you and I feel your loved ones missing you too. Oh and I wore your mom’s dress to my interview, and got the gig. Christa this loving tribute is absolutely beautiful!

Happy birthday big man, I speak with you often and always laugh at our life episodes we shared together.I know you're enjoying your time with pop's and mom but dam we miss you.

Have a great birthday luv and miss you Rob..

Vaca in the sun with never be the same without you big guy! I will truly miss you busting my chops about everything!! I’ll mostly miss our real and candid conversations about life. Love and appreciate ya.

I didn’t get to know you but I did get to care for you . You were so recognizable as they brought you to my trauma room . Surprisingly I didn’t remember you for being so tall or tan or that mustache . I remembered you from weeks earlier. Strong and healthy and after telling me
You just wanted to leave you took extra time to stop and check on an old friend , your words were kind and sincere and In a second you had earned all of my respect . You made someones day and I got to bear witness . You smiled and laughed and I watched knowing you were exhausted and in pain . Knowing Christa for the past few weeks I understand how special you are to so many people . It was my honor and privelage to be with you and your family on such a tragic day. Rest peacefully.

Wow 7 weeks we just celebrated Trish's 60th birthday down in New Jersey. And I kept thinking about how both you guys would have just loved this weekend celebration together. although we had a great time there was a tremendous void in our lives not having the two of you there with us to celebrate. Miss and love you brother!

My fondest memory of Steve is the true compassion he always afforded us. My family and I have traveled to Yonkers on countless occasions. It's a three hour trip sometimes grueling, sometimes not. After all the greetings, kisses, handshakes, and the "thanks-for-comings" Steve would always seek me out in some little corner and ask me how my trip truly was. He always seemed genuinely interested and concerned for our well being. He always took the time to really find out how I felt on a particular day. It's that kind of compassion and understanding that is truly rare. It was the little things that Steve thought about that most people don't.
One afternoon at a Christmas party at Rosary Hill the singer that had just finished the song "Feliz Navidad in Spanish said "...and now for the 'NORMAL' way!" and continued to sing the English chorus. While being of Hispanic descent and fluent in Spanish I just chuckled. Most people would not notice a miscue as such that. Steve did. He later approached me and put his arm around me and said "I think you're normal!" We both laughed but that memory and the comfort I felt at that moment will always be with me as he was the only one in the room that noticed the indiscretion.
We truly miss you Steve. -Yvonne, Bill and Dante.