In Memoriam, Joe Steffen

I never got to meet Joe, but we had some fun PMs back and forth.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=1235&sc=10

[rblackburn]

Had some fun times with Joe at the outpost, even got to dive with him...

Info on the project:

http://bellislandexpedition.blogspot.com/index.html

[Bill Rotella]

My Thoughts and Prayers to Joe's Family and Loved Ones.

[DavidP]

David & I send our Sympathy to Joe's Family.

David had dove with Joe several times.
Joe was a great friend and a
fantastic person, we will miss him.

God Bless,
David & Cynthia Penney
Live Oak, Florida

[DeWayne]

My heart goes out to Joe's wife and son. Joe was without a doubt one of the easiest divers to get to know, and as a result he will leave behind many friends who will miss him greatly.

[Line Squirrel]

Dove with Joe on a few occasions, took him in Bonnet his first time, what an easy going guy and a great friend. Always was a pleasure to see him walk throught the door at D. O.

He will be missed.


.

Joe Steffen (jjstefen) was a long time participant of this forum. He will be missed. I did not know him well, but what little I did, I enjoyed his company, his humor and willingness to help. Sincere condolences to the family.

[Janet]

Joe was one of the nicest people I have met at PSSP, he always had
a smile for everyone, he will be missed.
Janet

[pnewlon]

I posted this on the Deco Stop, copied it here for those that don't frequent that site.

The services Sunday and yesterday were unbelievably moving. Prior to leaving the funeral home, words were said by Steve (Doppler) and Randy(rcs9250) that brought tears to the eyes of even the toughest friends there. Joe was truly a multi-faceted man, we were just lucky enough to be participants in the part of his life that he was currently most passionate about. All the time we got with him was just borrowed from his family and community endeavors. I know that I'm personally thankful that we got that time.

Randy has some unfinished business to attend to that Joe asked him to help with. Randy, if you could be so kind as to allow us all to participate in placing a memorial with you, it would be great. Keep us posted on the progress of the project.

It is our intention to set up an education fund for Joey this week. There is a place on the Aqua Amigos website to donate to already, more information to come shortly after we sort out the details (www.aquaamigos.com). The weather in Ohio today is not so good, which will delay us by a day or so.

http://www.news-herald.com/site/news...id=21849&rfi=6

Joseph T. Steffen will live on through his children.

Those were the words Monday from the Rev. Sal Ruggeri of St. Gregory the Great Church as hundreds of family and friends packed the South Euclid church to pay tribute to the retired Richmond Heights police lieutenant-turned-councilman.
Steffen, 51, died Feb. 4 during a scuba diving expedition in Newfoundland.

He was an experienced diver with five years under his belt. Diving was one of the many sports that Steffen loved, Ruggeri said.
Steffen was instrumental in bringing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program to the Richmond Heights area. The children knew him as "Officer Joe," and both kids and parents turned to him for advice, Ruggeri said. He was also a church member who would volunteer for any task needed, the minister said.

He was a public servant who never asked for anything in return, Ruggeri said.
"He was also a prankster," Ruggeri said with a smile.

Friends smiled softly as Ruggeri talked of Steffen's annual Halloween display, calling it one of the best in Richmond Heights. It made the children happy - which was what Steffen loved to do, Ruggeri said.

Moments after the reverend talked of Steffen's playful pranks, the lights and power briefly went out in the church.

"That's our Joe," one church-goer whispered.

Richmond Heights Police Chief Gene Rowe described his longtime friend as an excellent police officer who quickly moved up the ranks from patrolman to lieutenant. He was always on the go, not even wanting to sit in his office because he wanted to get back to work, the chief said.

"He was like the (Energizer) bunny - only bigger," Rowe said.

Rowe illustrated his friend's outstanding public service by reading letters sent to him about Steffen's ability to go above and beyond the call of duty, no matter what the task.
Once, he made snowballs for a 3-year-old, only to be hit with those same snowballs.
Steffen is survived by his wife, Jennifer; daughter, Lindsey; son, Joey; mother, Helen Nero; and several siblings.
Joey and Steffen's niece Dawn Culp, both members of the Singing Angels, joined other members of their group to sing "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

It was a fitting tribute to a man who lived his life to keep the peace, friends said.


©The News-Herald 2007