Thursday, November 30, 0002
Steve was a great guy and a great boss. I truly owe him a lot for being such a positive mentor at the beginning of my engineering career. He supported me and helped me along the way to becoming a successful engineer. Steve greatly helped me out on my first significant design. He was a perfect manager – he held back enough to let me make a few small mistakes, asked the questions which would help me realize when changes were needed and yet allowed me to “own” the design. He stood up for me when such support was needed, offered praise when it was due and made sure that upper management saw my accomplishments. Steve made working in engineering quite fun. I spent many hours in debug being his “voice activated oscilloscope probe” and to this day every time I see an oscilloscope probe top, I think of Steve calling them “Witches Caps”. We cracked endless jokes and he was an integral part of our cadre of Netrix buds: Mark Hardesty, Blaine Readler, Herb Hopkins, Rich Stadtmiller, Houang Tran, Kathy Newman, Max Mazzitelli and others. I enjoyed watching him and Mark Hardesty have "pushing contests" in the hall on the slick floors – imagine this – two VERY tall guys slowly attempting to push each other around the halls – it was VERY funny to watch. There was no hostility and very few faces were made. There was a time I recall when Steve was car shopping. Leah was a year or so old and he explained to us at work his rationale for purchasing a Porsche (with a hatchback) “So that I can “haul wood” from Home Depot”. I played Steve in racquetball a few times – he beat me …better yet, “punished me” – all in good fun! A bunch of us from Netrix went to an Orioles game or two – Lots of hot dogs, some brew and many laughs were had. I even recall a story about Steve and other pre-Netrix buddies showing up at a restaurant where another buddy, Blaine Readler, was meeting a blind date. Steve and “the boys” made for some good fun goofing on Blaine in front of his date. Steve also taught me how to play “Dollar Bill Poker” and used to beat me every time the chance came up as he had a “secret” dollar bill folded up in his wallet which held a high hand (a Flush, if I recall correctly) I will remember Steve as a guy who dearly loved Patty and Leah. I remember him having a picture of Leah sitting on his motor cycle when she was about 1-2 years old. He used to refer to that picture as Leah being his “Biker Chick”. He spoke of Leah and Patty often and being a father and husband now myself, I understand the feelings he had for them. I want to say to both of you, that rest assured, the pain will pass and the fond memories will stay for the rest of your lives. Take care of each other, be strong for each other and walk tall. Steve touched many people, he lives on in many others’ lives and memories and his being an organ donor is a wonderful accent to a life well lived and he has helped others to live healthy and fulfilling lives. I wish you both the very best that life can bring and will keep you all in my prayers. Ken Weidele San Diego, CA Netrix – 1989-1993
