Sad News...
Harold called me this morning to inform me of the sudden
passing of Timber-alum Steve Safer. Steve apparently suffered a
heart attack.
I hardly knew Steve when I attended camp (my first year was his
last), but really got to appreciate the man at the 2000
reunion. Steve generously provided some of the oldest pictures
on this website when he entrusted me with a vintage 1962 Memory
Book . A close friend of Mark Faiwell, Steve was a warm and
gentle man who will be missed...
More details on where to send condolences, etc. will be
forthcoming.
[Date/Time=12-07-2002 -
10:25 AM] Bob
Gassel, dirwuf@aol.com, [Msgid=348090]
Steve Safer
What a great guy Steve was. I got to know Steve because he was
a close friend of my cousin and Timber Alum Larry Grossman and
because we were both originally from Whitefish Bay. I even
remember he lived on Marlborough and Fairmount right next to
the high school. I am stunned and I am saddened to hear the
news. Camp was so important to Steve as witnessed by his
attendance at the 2000 reunion. Whether he knew you a little
bit or was one of his closest friends, Steve always made you
feel like he was genuinely interested in your life and what you
were doing. Steve was truly one of the real quality people I
have met in my lifetime. As a little camper coming through the
ranks, Steve Safer was always one of those guys I looked up
too. He was a gentle giant and I will miss him.
[Date/Time=12-08-2002 - 9:47 AM]
marksy, , [Msgid=348389]
A horrible loss for the Timberlane
family
This is so incredibly sad. Steve Safer was one of the legends
of Timberlane, one of the original camp "color" men. When I was
14 years old in 1969, I had to leave camp during first session
due to illness. When I returned for the beginning of second
session, I drove up from Milwaukee with Safe. I never laughed
so hard in my life. As a camper, I wanted to be a counselor
because guys like Steve Safer, Nick Belinke, Norm Wolf and
Larry Grossman were the coolest funniest guys I knew. And they
looked like they were having way more fun than us campers. One
of my favorite photographs is of me and Steve at the 2000
reunion. He was a great guy. Please let us know where we can
forward condolences.
[Date/Time=12-08-2002 - 9:14 PM]
Lee Glicksman, benzachg@cs.com, [Msgid=348634]
Steve
Friday morning I got an e-mail from Steve Kravit about our
friend Steve Safer. Like everyone, I am shocked and saddened by
this seemingly unbelieveable news. We have known each other
through most of our cognitive lives via kindergarten, Sunday
school, various groups through high school, and college. We
were fraternity brothers and friends to this day and I can
truly say Steve was one of the best friends anyone could have.
He was always willing and happy to help out and do anything for
his friends. He cared about people and cherished relationships
and made everyone around him feel good just by his presence and
spirit.
I last saw him a few months after the reunion. (I could not
make the event because it was the same weekend I was taking my
daughter to her freshman year at college.) I called him to have
dinner in NY to hear about the reunion and catch up. We had not
seen each other in several years, but it was as if I had seen
him last week. We must have spent 3+ hours talking, laughing,
reminising and catching up. That night was one of a thousand
memories of Steve I'll cherish.
We are fortunate to have known him and he made the world a
better place by being here.
[Date/Time=12-09-2002 - 1:40 PM]
Larry Grossman, larryg@mediaencounters.com, [Msgid=348864]
If anyone is interested.....
A correction...
I must apologize for reporting some erroneous information,
Steve had not been shoveling snow as I had posted.
[Date/Time=12-10-2002 - 1:56 PM]
Bob Gassel, dirwuf@aol.com, [Msgid=349380]
Some thoughts about Steve Safer
Last Thursday the 5th I received a call from Mark Faiwell who
was in Vegas with Sandy for a brief trip. Mark seemed to be
quite upset which surprised me considering where he was at the
time. Yet, I knew by his voice that something was wrong. He
proceeded to inform me about Steve's death. Mark and Steve were
extremely close. In fact, Mark had spoken to Steve earlier that
day. They usually spoke a couple of times a week. I realized
that Mark had lost one of his best friends. Over the next few
days I spoke with Mark because I knew how upset he was about
Steve's passing.
I got to know Steve through camp. In 1968, my second year at
Timberlane, Steve was my golf instructor so to say. Steve was
extremely colorful! I fondly remember Steve and Nick Belinki
going through their ape imitations during numerous lunches at
the back of the dining hall. As a young Timber-brat I remember
Steve anouncing our shows with his vivid imagination. Steve was
one of numerous people I looked up to as a camper. Larry
Grossman, Norm Wolf, and especially Mark were the people who
made camp special for me.
During the past twenty years, Steve's path and mine crossed on
various occasions. I always looked forward to seeing him. I
always knew if I wanted to pass on a simple hello, Mark would
do so for me. If I wanted to know how Steve was doing, I would
ask Mark.
Over this past weekend I thought a lot about Steve and the
various points in our lives that we had contact with each
other. I am deeply sadded too by his passing. I will always
have special memories of him because of his presence in my life
while I was at Timberlane and beyond in our adult life. Steve
was a very unique and colorful person who I know will be sadly
missed by his family and friends.
[Date/Time=12-10-2002 - 9:50 PM]
Grant B. Linsky, gblinsky@gblrealestate.com, [Msgid=349610]
remembering ira
I join the chorus of fond recall of my friend Steve Safer. I
knew him from Sunday School, Timberlane and UW. He introduced
our neighborhood to 60's soul music, Temptations, etc. Kind of
comical seeing 14 year old white suburban boys grooving to
Detroit rhythm...actually, kind of like rap and baggy pants are
to 14 year old white suburban boys today. We called him "Ira"
around here, his dad's name, because there were too many
"Steves" in our generation, which I can personally vouch for.
Besides, "Ira" is funny, and Steve was a funny man.
His obit appeared in Milwaukee papers today, and there is a
local memorial on December 22 at 3 p.m. at North Shore Country
Club in Mequon. Details are at
http://www.onwisconsin.com/classifieds/deathnotices/deathnotice.asp?id=69026
[Date/Time=12-14-2002 - 8:08 AM]
Steve Kravit, kravit@aol.com, [Msgid=351213]
Big Joe Pierce
He's getting MARRIED?
[Date/Time=12-23-2002 - 10:51 PM]
Pud, anaprfool@yahoo.com, [Msgid=355110]
Big Pud
Puddy can we maybe have a Pud-Wedding "aka" Pudding in
03???
[Date/Time=12-24-2002 - 9:43 PM]
Petroff, nanpeter@attbi.com, [Msgid=355372]
The "Pudding"
I think you'd get lower odds if you bet on The Clippers to win
the NBA title.
[Date/Time=12-25-2002 - 8:33 PM]
JMoss, , [Msgid=355512]
The Wedding Story
Greetings to all from JP's wedding bash in Memphis...it looks
as though the ceremony WILL take place tonight as all escape
routes have been blocked. Last night saw a memorable rehearsal
dinner highlighted by wisecracks from Bobby Handmaker, a song
by Rick Moss, and Pud's never-ending "speech", which had to be
seen to be believed...more details and pics coming
soon.
[Date/Time=12-28-2002 - 11:39 AM]
Gazzoo, , [Msgid=356152]
The Pierce's
Bravo to JP and Billie...great weekend in Mempho...pictures to
follow...Pud, keep your day job!
[Date/Time=12-30-2002 - 2:48 PM]
JMoss, , [Msgid=356883]
MEMMMMM-PHIS
You better believe I'll keep my day job. I just got back into
town this evening (Monday) after downgrading myself Sunday
night from several nights at Embassy Suites-Memphis to "Life's
Great At Super 8" in Mattoon, IL. I actually wrote some
business today. Sheer words can't even come close to describing
the event that took place in the Big M this past weekend.
Between the 'Vous, Cozy Corner and Interstate, it was a weekend
full of prime Memphis pigmeat. The terrific New Orleans fare
was pleasing to the pallet as well. Sure my words, as Joey
would go on to say, were utter babble and dribble. I was only
being Pud. As I related to Joe, never have I attended such a
raucous affair in all my life and never will something quite
like this ever occur again. The Chieftonian's spiritual
presence was strongly felt by all of us, as the Huppah began to
sway to & fro. I think we'll all be talking about this one
for years to come. Thanks Billie and Joe for not only inviting
me, but for giving me such exclusive dinner accomodations
outside on the "plaza." I also had the VERY special priviledge
of spending those last very early morning hours on Sunday,
hearing Joey pound his fists very hard on my bedroom wall at
3:30 A.M., as he and his new bride were right next door. Since
I neglected to bring my camera, all photos of me (and I'm not
talking strictly plunger shots) will be gladly accepted at
anaprfool@yahoo.com
Thanks to the Pierce/Wolf families for making this weekend so
special to all of us Timberfolk as it truly was to all of
you...
[Date/Time=12-30-2002 - 11:32 PM]
Pudrick Blofeld, Table 22, ,
[Msgid=357015]
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