I had known Steve since I was a little kid. He was my brother Mark's best friend. Steve grew up in a family that never really loved or appreciated him. That was probably why he was so loving and outgoing, making up for all the years he grew up unloved. He was always there for the people he cared about. Often giving money or gifts when he needed it so desperately himself. But that was Steve, generous to a fault. He just couldn't let a friend go in need of something, regardless if he could afford to help or not.

Like myself, Steve spent many years in a loveless marriage. Feeling trapped, and beginning to give up on life just to get it over. Then one night, while surfing on the computer, he came across the website Classmates.com. On a whim he looked up his high school sweetheart, Marge. Steve had never gotten over Marge and he was curious as to what became of her.

Marge had been told many years ago that Steve had been shot and killed, but it turned out to have been someone else with the same name. So she never dreamed that she'd get an e-mail from the man that she too had never gotten over. It wasn't long before she flew down from Pennsylvania to Florida to meet Steve. Sparks flew the minute they saw each other, and remained until that terrible day, 18 months later, when Steve closed his eyes for the last time.

In no time at all Steve and Marge were married. They were like high school kids, laughing, holding hands, and looking at each other with so much love that it brought tears to your eyes. Sadly most of they're time together was spent with Steve in the hospital as Marge sat beside his bed, holding his hand. Those who knew Steve knew that his heart was as big as all outdoors, but no one really knew just how bad his heart was.

On July 13, 2006, surrounded by his family and friends, Steve slipped away. I pray for his wife Marge. Losing someone you love is never easy, but when you've had such a brief time together it's always worse. Steve's memory will live on in those he loved and left behind.