Man, I'm absolutely gutted.
I collaborated with Steve (and by this I mean: He helped me create something being incredibly generous with his time) on a couple of projects, most notably the docuseries linked in post #7. We spent a few days filming at his studio, then went to a home game with Steve and his buddies. So many great stories. He was one of a kind, and I don't say that lightly.
A few months later, we flew to Chicago again to film something for a charity Steve helped run. When we were there, they did a 24-hour charity stream where Steve stayed up the whole time, played a live gig at like 5 in the morning, hosted the whole thing, and when he wasn't needed in front of a microphone, he went home and cooked for everybody. I, then 35, passed out before the sun even came up, and when I woke up a few hours later, a 59-year-old Steve was serving everyone breakfast, probably not having even considered taking a nap. When Steve believed in a cause or thought he could help someone, he was tireless. Seemingly everyone we interviewed in Chicago had a story about Steve where he had practically saved someone off the street, accommodated strangers in his house, or whatever it took to help. People know how Steve
refused to take royalties, and he charged everyone he worked with the same minimal fee so that everyone could afford him (bands from my town in Finland I had never even heard have recorded albums with Steve!), but most of his charitable contributions aren't even known to the public.
This is their charity. I know the home page isn't flashy - this is a very home-grown organization - but I know for a fact this meant the world to Steve (his wife is the president of the organization). To my knowledge, the Albinis spent every Christmas for 20 years delivering presents to kids in shady neighborhoods from morning until night after spending a good part of the year fundraising. Why would you spend your Christmas at home when you can spend the day saving someone else's Christmas? That was Steve.
I spoke with someone from the charity today, and they are obviously devastated.
Let's show them some love, 2+2.
Really wish I was able to write a proper eulogy and do Steve justice, but I'm too gutted right now -- and I barely knew him. Some people just have that aura where you instantly know the world would be a much worse place without them.
For everyone on 2+2 who knew Steve: I'm so sorry for your loss
PS. Legendary life advice:
Last edited by Chuck Bass; 05-08-2024 at 08:46 PM.