FITCHBURG - Steven Severson (aka Nutkin and Von Spark), after a spirited, hard-fought battle with cancer has found 'the clearing at the end of the path,' having passed to the next adventure at his home at HospiceCare in Fitchburg on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. Steve had battled what he called 'the mystery meat' with personal grit, holistic spiritualism, and his utterly unique, often macabre sense of humor.
Steve and his identical twin, Rob, were born in Tampa, Fla., the biological sons of Jean Phillips and Walter Driggers, both formerly of St. Petersburg. Shortly after their birth the twins were adopted by Judith and Gary Severson; a young couple from Wisconsin. Steve was a gifted child, excelling in all art forms. After graduating Oregon High in ' 86, Steve's path featured numerous artistic endeavors and a career based in deeply held principles of progressive social responsibility and environmental protection.
Steve became an activist of national renown, working for MoveOn.org and raised record amounts of private donations on behalf of grassroots campaigns. Most recently, Steve, despite having terminal cancer, volunteered his time and personal resources in the election of Barack Obama. Upon learning of Steve's story and plight, Senator Obama's staff contacted Rob to arrange for a surprise phone call between the candidate and an unwitting Steve. When the future President called and declared how Steve's story was a personal inspiration to HIM, Steve shed proud tears.
On Jan. 12, 2009, his condition worsened and he was admitted to HospiceCare in Fitchburg. Steve not only bounced back physically, he flourished in every conceivable manner. Steve committed himself to 'adding to the substance of the universe' through sharing his artwork, music, and the teachings of St. Rita, the patron Saint of the impossible. HospiceCare was Steve's home in every sense. He referred to staff as his extended family, confidently subjecting them to the full range of his fun and sometimes downright tawdry teasing. They made Steve's life come full circle. On April 17, 2009, HospiceCare sponsored an art show featuring Steve's artwork, music and poetry, highlighting the mission of HospiceCare.
Steve is survived by his mom, Judy Severson, mother, Jean Camuccio, and stepmom, Linda Severson; his dad, Gary Severson, his father, Walter Driggers; his brothers, Rob (Kim) Severson, Greg (Michelle) Gleich, Tim (Lori) Gleich, Rocky Driggers, John (Andrea) Varda and Randell DiPrima; his sisters, Patti (Mark) Stindt, Tara (Nate) Montemayor and Heather (Karl) Hasman; his twin niece and nephew, Raina and Logan Severson; and too many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends to name here without purchasing ad space!
Steve is preceded in passage by his grandmothers, Ruth Reineke, Esther Severson and Phyllis Phillips; his grandfathers, Steven Severson and Robert Reineke; and a sister, Jennifer Camuccio-LaRosa; a stepfather, Bob Gleich; and his beloved cat, Uzi.
Steve's family would like to express gratitude and heart-felt affection for Dr. Mike Frontiera and his staff (you too front-desk ladies!) at Dean Oncology. They have few peers, given the professional, compassionate service they provided at every appointment. Finally, we must provide profound and loving kudos to every Dr., RN, CNA, Administrator, Support Staff, and every Volunteer that made it possible for Steve to call HospiceCare his home. Special acknowledgement to: Deputy Dan for being a fellow twin and former fellow OHS graduate, the kitchen staff for providing Steve with every last blueberry within a three-mile radius, the Christinas who made Steve' s blog entries move, John McCarthy/John Van Dyke for helping Nutkin transcend to a higher plane, 'Big D' for kicking him in the shorts when needed, Superman, Batman, and Robin for helping Rob when needed most, Sue and Dan for the Art Show, and finally to Jane, CeCe, Courtney and the Marys for every bit of caring dignity that they afforded our zany, Tom Petty and Bugs Bunny lovin' liberal buddy and brother.
Friends and family may come to HOSPICECARE, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. There will be a service held to celebrate Steve at noon, with a reception provided after. In lieu of other gifts, a memorial fund will be established in Steve's name. All financial gifts will be granted to HospiceCare.
From A Gunslinger (Guns)
Moderator: Orlion
From A Gunslinger (Guns)
As some of you may know, his brother was very ill with cancer. He did succumb to it, and Guns has asked me to post his obituary here. He will hopefully be back in the not-too-distant future.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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CovenantJr
- Lord
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aliantha
- blueberries on steroids
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My condolences to Guns and his family.
RIP, Gunsbrother.
RIP, Gunsbrother.
EZ Board Survivor
"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)
https://www.hearth-myth.com/
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Furls Fire
- Lord
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My sympathies to Guns and all in his family. May Steve rest in peace, joy and light...
...If I should be the first to go
I'll mark the path with care
so when you follow in my steps
you'll find me waiting there...
...If I should be the first to go
I'll mark the path with care
so when you follow in my steps
you'll find me waiting there...
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
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Fist and Faith
- Magister Vitae
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Condolences Guns.
Wish I would have known when it occurred as I live in Fitchburg and could have attended the wake.
Wish I would have known when it occurred as I live in Fitchburg and could have attended the wake.
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. John Stuart Mill
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High Lord Tolkien
- Excommunicated Member of THOOLAH
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Sorry Guns.
https://thoolah.blogspot.com/
[Defeated by a gizmo from Batman's utility belt]
Joker: I swear by all that's funny never to be taken in by that unconstitutional device again!
[Defeated by a gizmo from Batman's utility belt]
Joker: I swear by all that's funny never to be taken in by that unconstitutional device again!
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Avatar
- Immanentizing The Eschaton
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Dropped Guns a mail when I saw this thread, and he asked me to post his reply.
--AGuns wrote:Thanks man! I appreciate it. I miss the watch as you might surmise…missing out during the American election cycle was especially hard (I’m sure the tank was a veritable feast o’ fun for the famished, eh?), but the last few months leading up to Steve’s death were pretty all-encompassing, and beautiful in that kinda way that mortifies a person. That and I am finally getting divorced.
I have, you see, completed my transition from mere mortal to “character-in-Springsteen-song”.
I keed. I keed.
Seriously though, I refuse to allow my circumstances to define me outright, Av. Attempting to bend the universe to your will, whether by trying to alter the past, or to control the future, is a fools errand. All we have is that pesky beast known as NOW. Live IT to your highest and best, and perhaps your choices will inform and influence the future…but that is the best we can hope for. Live NOW, be true to yourself and others…and you’ll have the life you love. Happily I am starting to get there.
Thank you for your encouragement. Once I get done with this divorce, I will be back. Ready me another comeback award, and please if you care to, post this exchange on Cail’s thread so that people know I am not a devastated heap of bones and meat, weeping the dusty tears of the defeated. Ok?
Guns.
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Cagliostro
- The Gap Into Spam
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