Seattle Press on Line - In Memory of Stephen Blood, 1967-2000

Obituary

In Memory of Stephen Blood, 1967-2000

Dec 13, 2000 -- Stephen Douglas Blood, Jr., a student at Pacific Oaks College, a former painting contractor and bicycle messenger, took his own life November 30. Stephen was a friend, a neighbor and a co-worker, so I write about him only with a great feeling of sadness and loss.

He is mourned by his many friends in Seattle and other parts of the country, and by his father and stepmother, Stephen and Connie Blood of Alexandria, Virginia; his brother, Christian, also of Alexandria; his sister, Laura Kaplan of Denver, Colorado; and his mother, Nancy Forest of Front Royal, Virginia.

Stephen struggled for years with depression and alcoholism. In the past few years, it looked to many of his friends as though he had conquered his demons. But late on that Thursday night, in the parking lot at Gasworks Park, the demons won the last round.

Stephen had a broad range of enthusiasms including architecture, design and woodworking as well as fine painting and decorating techniques. As a painter, he worked on some elaborate recreations of Victorian design, and he often sketched plans for houses and furniture. He was thrilled when he got the chance to do intricate, meticulous work, and proud when his clients recognized his high level of competence. He was a skilled and dedicated craftsman.

His lifelong search for his own place in the world led him into training as an elementary school art teacher at Pacific Oaks College. Stephen loved kids and had a remarkable way of building relationships with his younger neighbors and the children of his friends. He didn't relate to kids through their parents, or try to include them in adult conversations. Stephen met kids on their own level and built friendships one-to-one. As a result, children loved him, and a career teaching art to children seemed to offer a promising direction for his life.

No one knows how he lost the struggle. But his family and friends know he fought courageously and constantly to build a productive life anchored in a network of friends. To a great extent, he succeeded. The proof lies in the many people who loved and admired him: family, roommates, neighbors, clients, co-workers, teachers and fellow students.

We knew him as a lover of movies, music, dogs, bicycling and people. We knew him as a talented, enthusiastic, funny, loving, tireless celebrator of the beautiful, the profound and the absurd.

None of us can understand how despair could overwhelm a man like Stephen, and sweep him away and out of our lives.

Reader Comments

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Angie Damm	Dec 14, 2000	Vermont	lover
Thanks Tom


alan	Jul 22, 2001	seattle	web guy
That was very well written. I'm glad I found it online. I became good friends with Stephen in the last year and a half 2 years of his life. I didn't know many of his other friends and didn't know much of his problems with alchol and depression, however he did speak of it briefly. I worked with him on painting projects, ridden with him and had some memorable times with Stephen. In the end I wish he would have made a different decision, because he had so much to offer.


Theresa Wood	Mar 03, 2004	Seattle	Designer
I have read the above before and am thankful for it. I noticed Dina's comments and am wondering what the memorial is and where?


Patrick Lind	Dec 23, 2004	Chicago, IL	Architecture, Design, Fine Art
This season always stirs memories of Stephen, partly because I last visited him over the millenium New Year. I remember that night and week after very well. Every New Year's eve I toast him at midnight just as I did in 2000. Feeling what I continue to now just reinforces the many ways that he impacted my life and opened my eyes. I paused today rom cleaning out my closet to re-read Stephen's letters. I never thought of seeking out his name on the internet, but that is how I found this. I would like to thank the author of the artical written. I was too distraught at the time to attend memorial services and retain some guilt over it, but it seemed like closure for me at the time. My heart could not be more with the man. If anyone reads this and wants to contact me to exchange thoughts, photos or memories related please feel free.


Patrick Lind	Dec 23, 2004	Chicago, IL	Architecture, Design, Fine Art
I can be reached at flysolo32@earthlink.net