Steve never met an opera he didn’t like. In any production, any performance, no matter how pedestrian or outlandish, he could find some element that was new or offered an interesting interpretation. Perhaps it was this same quality that made him able to connect and get along with with practically any kind of person, and achieve understanding and friendship.
Steve liked to call the Wagner Society “Wagner Anonymous”, and frequently opened his remarks with “Hi, I’m Steve, and I’m a Wagnerian”. He said it was a place where Wagner fanatics could go and indulge their passion for endless discussion and dissection without annoying their friends and family. It would have been true, except that he was so successful in turning his friends and family into fellow Wagnerians.
Steve was a born teacher. He not only had vast knowledge, understanding, and enthusiasm for so many subjects, he was truly delighted to see others experiencing one of his favorite insights. He didn’t just tell you — he had a gift for knowing what piece of the puzzle you needed next to achieve that insight for yourself. Whether it was Calculus, Wotan, or Superman, Steve would open up whole worlds to anyone who wanted to go there.
-Judy Bogart-Hyde
