A Tribute To Steve Atwood

Record 22
Name: Nanci & Sarah...a progress report
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: 
Time: 1999-11-02 03:06:55
Comments: Five weeks today...wow...It still feels unreal. Not that we are in denial..we accept that he is gone, but our minds and bodies still must be a bit numb. The ONLY thing making us cope is the true LOVE and FRIENDSHIP from you all. We always knew in OUR lives just how important Steve was...but to hear how he affected so many others is just HEARTWARMING. We are doing a bit better each day...and thank God everyday for the wonderful friends and family we are so blessed with. Please know what a difference you are making in our lives. If we have learned anything from Steve's death, it's that the ONLY thing that really matters is family, friends, and love. We are grateful to have all three. xoxox

Record 21
Name: Peri James/ typed by Nanci
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: 
Time: 1999-11-02 02:53:48
Comments: My heart aches for you & Sarah at such an incredibly sad time. I lost my 16 yr old daughter Whitney, 2 1/2 years ago, in a car accident and miss her everytime I breathe. I want to send my prayers and hugs to you and wish for you to have the strength and courage to go forward and remember to celebrate Steve's life as much as you can. It's so very difficult to go forward without your life's partner or your dad. It doesn't seem fair, but you have each other and just hold on tight!! Steve was such a caring and special human being. He has been such a great friend to our family. We have alll benefited from his incredible life! We will be thinking of you two in such sad times and hoping that you get thru each day remembering his great sense of humor, his kindness, his intelligence, his "family" vision, and his great smile. Thank you for sharing him with us.

Record 20
Name: Christine Ryan/ typed by Nanci
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: 
Time: 1999-11-02 02:44:42
Comments: Steve seemed to have a lot more to do...with you, Sarah, the house, the pups, and his friends. But the one thing about Steve is that he always did it "his way". Even up to the last precious moments, he spent them doing one of his favorite things. I can only imagine what you & Sarah will be experiencing and I truly do ache for you both. I just wanted you to know my experience with Steve...Steve always had a big ol' grin on his face! He always came out of his office to say hello and to listen to my latest crazy life experience. I truly believe he got a kick out of some of them, and it was such fun to laugh out loud together. But it wasn't until the day I brought in our Border Collie "Emmett" did I feel I got Steve's stamp of approval. He really showed Emmett love. He rubbed his belly and played with him so sweetly. And when I brought my new son "Leo" in for a visit, Steve was even sweeter to him...holding and rocking him so gently. I hadn't realized how sweet he was on babies and puppies....to me that's the kind of man my mom always told me to marry...you obviously listened to my mom! Steve was a great man in so many ways.

Record 19
Name: Jim Protiva/typed by Nanci
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: 
Time: 1999-11-02 02:37:01
Comments: I've tried for days to compose my thoughts on Steve's death and struggle even now. To convey my sorrow to friends here in Missouri is fruitless, because you had to know Steve personally to understand the loss we have suffered. Such a selfless and upbeat person...one does not encounter frequently. The comment "At least he died doing something he loved" does not seem to help ease the sorrow. I have found that life is more about relationships than experiences. My sympathy is for you two who will experience wonderful and sorrow filled times to come, without the company of a husband or father. My mind swirls with all the POSITIVE memories aof Steve. From the time he wrestled John Gray and me and beat us BOTH...at the the same time!! ...in the lower Canyon... to his concern for you Nanci, after your flip in Cataract Canyon. His generosity was unsurpassed. I miss you and pray that you find comfort in the Lord in these days ahead.

Record 18
Name: JoBeth J/typed by Nanci
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: 
Time: 1999-11-02 02:28:11
Comments: Dearest Nanci, I met you in 1993 shortly after my first trip down the Colorado. I met Steve, AKA "Butch" on that trip, though I felt as if I'd known both of you prior to the event..my mother had spoken so highly of you two. It happend at the time that I was very uncertain of what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be in Advertising, or to travel, to exist in a way that made me happy and spiritually sound. Steve spent several evenings around the campfire, asking me questions, to help me answer my own. The rest of the time he spent on his boat listening diligently to his walkman...all the tapes that you had made for him. It was his "time with Nanci"He spoke of you so often and with such glow, but not in a usual love fashion. It was easy to tell that he had a partner, a soul mate, and a best friend as well as a wife. It's been 6 years since that trip and it's still so often that I think of the brief but lasting impact Steve had on my life. Many of my choices and much of my destiny were based on his timely widsom...rugged yet sure. And my ideas of who to look for in life took on new meaning as well. Marriage has always meant something different to me after a quick glimpse of what it really SHOULD be for everyone, but happens to the rare few. That kind of love lives beyond death and continues to grow in ways most never dream possible. I am so terribly sorrowed by the loss of such a great husband, father and friend. I'm thankful for Steve's unique role as a "River Rat" for the mere fact that he touched SO many people, myself included. Fot that role I will never forget either of you or the immense love that will forever exist between two very special people, you and Steve.

Record 16
Name: Steve Trompeter
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Cave Creek, AZ
Time: 1999-10-22 05:49:24
Comments: I have to relate how I met Steve. Many years ago I was promoted to used car manager at Lou Grubb Chevrolet. Having reached this plateau in my career, of course I knew everything there was to know about the auto business, including advertising. One particular weekend this guy named Steve Atwood who owned some company named Creative Advertising put together a big used car promotion for us in the newspaper. I decided I didn't like it, called the newspaper direct, through my weight around, and changed most of the ad copy. Needless to say, it was a total flop. Bright and early Monday morning I got the call to report to the General Manager's office immediately. His name was George Burns. Next to him sat Steve Atwood. The conversation wasn't pretty. As I thought I was about to get fired, Steve told the GM that at least now there was someone around here who had the balls to do what he believed in. Saved my ass! Afterward Buddy Rice pulled me aside and told me I've made a good friend in Steve Atwood. Jeez, was he ever right. I'm missing that guy- those great lunches at Richardsons, week-end at Steve and Nancy's cabin,Christmas party, martinis and a limo, that infectious laugh, and a word of advice and support here and there. Nancy, we'll still have many more and Steve, here's to you.

Record 15
Name: Jeanie Norton
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Phoenix
Time: 1999-10-22 03:44:37
Comments: STEVE-- His handsome presence alone emitted a silent strength that everyone who associated w/him, from family to co-workers, business associates and friends, absorbed and thrived on with a sense of safe, secure and protected well-being. This is one reason why so many people from all walks of life were drawn to him like a moth to a flame--his warm personable smile always gave you an unspoken compliment of approval. Not to mention his generous and bigger-than-life zest for life and fun-loving side toward so many different people in so many different ways. He was always so honorable and righteous and spoke his true feelings loud and clear, no matter how they may be received by anyone! He was so enjoyed as a special person by so many in so many different ways. I guess that's why so many people always replied, "Steve was my best friend." And he was truly that for many different reasons to so many different people. He was all of this and more and I know he would be the first to say or admit that he was able to be what he was to everyone because of his precious love of his life, his wife, Nanci, and their darling precious daughter, Sarah, who shared him with everyone and complimented and encouraged and supported his every endearing zest and quest and love for life and everyone. How can someone like that be taken or leave us all so prematurely when all the circles in his life he was in will never be complete the same way again without him. Thank you, God, from the depths of all our hearts for the privilege of having him in our lives and letting us be touched by him. I loved you, too--Jeanie Norton

Record 14
Name: David Glass
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: New Mexico/Now Phoenix
Time: 1999-10-20 04:47:01
Comments: Steve was a New Mexican we all can be proud to have known. He was an advertiser who dared think outside the box and set a benchmark of quality and humanity in a less-than-pristine world clogged with hype.He was a kayaker extraordinaire, excelling to the highest levels of accomplishment. He was also a man of great loyalty, integrity and honesty. He was his own man. I laughed out loud at some point during, I think, every conversation I ever had with him. He even visited me in my dreams after his passage one night to tell me he's okay and doing fine...and I'm no "new-age" kook. God bless and Godspeed, Steve. It was a great gift to have known you.

Record 13
Name: Athia Hardt
Website: 
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Phoenix
Time: 1999-10-19 16:31:46
Comments: I didn't know Steve as well as some of you; we worked together for Grubb Automotive--Steve, as you know did advertising; I did PR. I just want to say how sorry I am. He was a great guy, with a great laugh. His knowledge and insight were always a great help to me, but the best thing was that he always put life in great perspective. It was clear that Nanci and Sarah were the most important part of his life, and that people mattered. We should all learn from Steve's priorities.