My name is Kate Lyn Reiter. I have been friends with Steve Taylor since we were both sophomores in high school. His passing on February 23, 2009 has left me yearning to connect with his friends - and he has friends all around the world. I have started this blog as a place for us to all share our memories. Please share your memories here in comments.
I have learned that there will be a Memorial Service at the Metropolitan Community Church in Washington, DC, on Saturday, March 28th, at 6:00 pm. I will be attending. Many of us around the world will not be able to come. Please share your memories here and I will pass them along.
To Steve - I love you my dear friend, for all time and non-time.
Kate
Some people drown in the wake of their own shadow. Others spend their lives chasing it. I don't think Steve was ever still enough to cast one. My name is Nancy Kester (Simpson) and my time with Steve was relatively short, during the formative years. We didn't grow up together, contrarily we grew together, trying to define life at the same time and it was a real blast. I don't know anyone who had more fun than our band of rip and tear teenagers. There was choir, church camp, hootenannies, car washes, etc, etc, etc. And I can never watch Hello Dolly without thinking of him and the time we saw it together. The fun was non-stop, the laughter was always rolling and Steve was most always at the root of it all. There was plenty to admire about Steve but if I had to choose one thing it was his personability. Everything was personal with him, he was always on a one to one level. He cared deeply for his friends, he did not know how to do any less. I saw him fleetingly in college and when I did he never failed to give me a grea big Steve hug. What a friend. He etched a bit of himself in me and I will remember him always.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kate for creating this space. It is much appreciated.
I knew Steve now going on 40+ years. Even though our paths did not cross for so many years, he was often in my thoughts. I will never forget his infectious laugh and his exuberent personality. It seems he has made quite a difference in this world in serving so many people. I will always cherish the memories from our friendship so long ago. His passing has left a hole in my heart. I pray God's peace upon Steve's sister and mother.
ReplyDeletePatty Clark
I met Steve when he was working in Washington for the State Department when Kate and I went to visit him (I am Kate's partner of 22 years). Steve had a way of becoming your close friend in a matter of minutes! His open nature, sense of humor, generosity and trust of human nature made him the most unique person I had ever met. We loved to laugh together, talk about dogs (he had two at that time!) and enjoy each others company. Steve introduced us to Country Western line dancing at a bar in Washington DC, where I learned the latest Country Western dances as they were taught to me masterfully by a group of Catholic priests who were also friends of Steve's and just as much fun! He was the most generous person I had the pleasure of meeting, and spent his life giving to those he loved and those in other countries who could benefit from his wisdom and love. The heavens are brighter with the addition of a new star in the sky, but the loss we feel here on earth for his passing is unexplainable.
ReplyDeleteDebbie Leach
I remember Steve as a generous, intelligent, caring high school and college student who always had time for anyone who needed his time and ear. Mercy, but that guy had more energy! I haven't seen him in many years, but will still miss him. When I think of Steve what comes to mind is that distinctive, contagious laugh of his. Thanks for setting this up, Kathy.
ReplyDeleteTige Bennett
tigebennett@alltel.net
While a freshman in H.S., some of my church friends came to me and said I must try to convert this amazing young man! It was Steve Taylor. Over the years our spiritual (and religious) paths indeed crossed; and the realization of this helped to bring us very close in the last 10 years, though sometimes separated by thousands of miles. I will forever deeply cherish our time together - the long theological conversations at Starbuck's, Steve's affectionate hugs, bubbly giggles, his inability to think of anything unkind to say about anyone, la Petite Fleur, the funny Moscow look of him and Artur dressed all in black (shorts, socks, shoes, t-shirts), the tearful phone calls after Artur died, Steve's unshakable faith in God and salvation and the sacraments, "the old, old story of Jesus and His love," his beautiful voice. Rest in peace and love, Steve - dear friend and spiritual brother. "Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell. (Edna St. Vincent-Millay) -- D. Sue Jackson
ReplyDeleteI was just a kid -- 12 years old -- but since I was the only one who played the big upright bass I found myself with the "older kids" of the church youth group. I was surrounded by so many amazing high school people that I was in a constant state of hero worship, but nobody inspired me like Steve Taylor. The was something uniquely authentic about his warmth, his positive attitude, his infectious smile, his endearing manner, his kinetic energy -- and then there was his voice. Oh, the chills that ran up and down my neck when that man sang! No one ever managed to deliver a lyric with so much expression, or to fill a melody with so much joy. After my father's death Steve and I were re-united in email and I had the opportunity to tell him how much he meant to me, and how much my Dad had loved him, too. Fare well, beloved! My dear, dear brother. Thanks God for a life that so richly blessed so many. -- Brian Jackson
ReplyDeleteWhat is there to say about Steve that hasn't already been posted? I, too, met Steve at Overland Baptist Church. We sang together, laughed together, shared, & cared together. I don't think that I have ever seen one as evangelistic as Steve. He always knew the right thing to say & make me laugh. God knew what He was doing when he got a hold on Steve. Steve took his salvation & the gospel message & literally spread it around the world. We were all so fortunate to be a part of that. I love Steve like a brother & my heart will forever have a spot that belongs to him. I praise my God for you Steve!
ReplyDeleteI, too, was just a kid when I met Steve Taylor. I looked up to Steve, my sisters, and all of the "older" youth group at OBC. I believe that era was a very unique time for us all. The bond that we all shared was wonderful. It held no age boundaries. I am 50(something) now, and have not seen anything quite like it since. Dave Bennett had a lot to do with that. He knew how to bring kids together. The group just grew and grew. I will ALWAYS remember Steve singing Bridge Over Troubled Waters. It was awesome and put chills up my spine! I might add it was my mom's favorite, too! As I read his bio I see how God has so richly blessed his life. I can only imagine how Steve must have blessed others with his sweet spirit and his all-consuming love for his Lord. We all know that he has gone to his new home that Jesus personally prepared for him. What a treasure thought that is! I have been blessed (even as a "kid") to have had the opportunity to know him and be a part of such a terrific family of OBC youth. Thank you,Steve, for blazing a trail for those of us that followed.--Patty (Simpson)Hale
ReplyDeleteSteve's mom would like to have a recording of Steve singing "Bridge." I know that was back in the day when we didn't easily record, but if such a tape exists, please let me know. Thank you. -- Sue (Susie) Jackson
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate for setting this up. What a blessing it is to relive memories of Steve through the sharing of the many friends. He was special person with great talents and a love for people. He was the same to all he met, and yet unique to each one as well. Spent great times together in youth choir, several trips, college roommates, concerts, plays and he sang at my wedding. 'Bridge' was at the top of my list too. The last time I saw him was at Saint Meinrad, but was blessed to share emails through the years. I'm so grateful to have walked a few miles of life with him, but certainly wish there were many more. There is a hole, but I wouldn't trade the relationship and memories to fill it. Steve, I love ya brother and I'll see you later. -- Bill Bonine
ReplyDeleteSteve has to be one of the best extraverts the world has produced, because he could love everyone at once, in a way that was authentic. The two things that strike me as soon as I think of him are his wonderful laughter-filled voice, and the way he would bound into a room, his energy filling it before you could see him. I can hardly say we are impoverished for his departure, only that we are blessed and enriched that he has been in our lives, even if he's gone ahead of some of us.
ReplyDeleteIn high school Steve introduced me to a book called The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Of course, Steve read it in French, Le Petit Prince. The little prince arrived on this planet from a star and teaches the author that "it is only with the heart that one sees rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye." As I read more of all our memories it becomes clear that Steve's gift was to see us all with his heart. I will forever see his smile, his twinkling eyes (that seemed to twinkle more with each passing year - as his face turned into a smiling moonface!) -- and his infectious laugh! He knew how to squeeze the joy out of every moment, and each moment in his presence filled his friends with joy and laughter. I thought of him when I saw the stars the other night, and The International Star Registry has now named a star in the Taurus constellation: R. Steven Taylor 'Le Bouche'.
ReplyDeletefrom The Little Prince:
“In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You -- only you -- will have stars that can laugh!”
And he laughed again.
“And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure . . . And your friends will be properly astonished to see you laughing as you look up at the sky! Then you will say to them, ‘Yes, the stars always make me laugh!’ And they will think you are crazy. It will be a very shabby trick that I shall have played on you . . .”
I learned about Steve's passing today. What a shame. I loved that man. I met Steve while I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso. He was the one to come and tell me that my father was ill (he later passed away) in the United States and then he moved heaven and earth to get me on the plane(s) that got me home in the quickest way possible. After my peace corps service I stayed on in Burkina and he was my closest friend. I stayed at his home on many occasions and there was always a lot of singing and laughter and joy. He met my brother Jay and they became friends and Steve visited him in Switzerland where he lives. He was a funny and fearless man. I have never laughed as hard as I did with Steve. He sang at my wedding. He and my friend Mimi sang duets of The Lord's Prayer and Evergreen. He was fabulous. I have it on DVD. We have stayed in touch through all of his travels. There will be a hole in heart now that he is gone. Gina Coulter Session email gsession@ag.nv.gov
ReplyDelete