Steven Chance

Steven Chance, 64, of Tempe, Arizona sadly passed from life in his home on Thursday, August 3 at the end of a grim and cruel, but courageous, 33-month struggle with gastroesophageal cancer. Steven was born on July 28, 1959 in Chicago and remained immensely fond of the city, its many elegant wonders, and its unique food culture throughout his life. He had an uncommonly turbulent and deprived childhood but nonetheless developed a vivid imagination, a fertile intelligence, a penetrating sense of humor, and a keen interest in learning; excelled in his studies at school; mastered Hebrew at an impressively tender age; read avidly in a remarkably wide range of ostensibly unrelated subjects; acquired an especially robust taste for accomplished literature (most notably for Tolkien’s celebrated The Lord of the Rings ); and came to draw inventive images, to write engaging text and music, and to play the guitar with great skill and resolve. In his adult years, Steven also became fascinated with political affairs and with the intrigues of nature, with such as space exploration, dinosaurs, forests, and the character of light in particular. He also came to cook exceedingly well and to eat with infectious enthusiasm. Steven had most hoped for a professional life in music but landed instead, surprisingly and unhappily, in a world unsuited to him, in the corporate world. Throughout the early years of his vocational life, he worked as a salesman of various commodities in both the United States and Canada. He spent the last decades of his largely successful career somewhat more pleasingly, in transportation services, principally as a courier driver and as a driver of taxis, town cars, and medical-transport vehicles. Steven joyously spent the last thirteen years of his personal life with his beautiful and loyal partner, Nicki Osterhoudt, whom he admirably loved and defended with uncompromising rigor. His astute, generous, and charming personality also added much to the warm life of Nicki’s broader family, which had an enormous regard for Steven, sometimes affectionately referring to him as “Sir Steven of the Lakes.” You will be greatly missed, never forgotten, and always treasured, Sir Steven. Even Frodo Baggins would have been proud of you. Well done and farewell! Steven is survived by his significant other, Nicki; his daughter, Bethany; his grandson, Anthony; his granddaughter, Lana; his sister, Nanette; and his aunt, Sheila.