Sad News about Chefstefano
 

Stephen Blackwell (aka: "ChefStefano" on this forum and many others) passed away last Thursday. We got the sad news from his mom.

As some of you already know, Chef was battling a rare form of cancer the last couple of years.

Chef was originally from San Diego where he first started kayak fishing many years ago. He also live and worked in Monterey, CA where many of us up north got to know and love him. Many of us considered him a great friend and one of the bravest guys we have ever met. The way he dealt with his illness was truly inspirational to all of us.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...fano/chef1.jpg

Chef... we're gonna miss ya brother!!!

Here's a memorial thread on the NCKA website:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/in...p?topic=7697.0

too sad, I only had the pleasure of meeting him once, very friendly cool guy. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family...

Chris

Very sad to hear. R.I.P brother.

It is always sad to lose a good person, there are not really enough of them to go around the way it is.
The best way to honor him, or any of our other friends and family that have gone on, is to never waste a single minute of a single day while we are here.

Damn, sorry to hear that.

I send my condolences.

Al

So sad... My prayers and thoughts.

That is sad.
RIP, and thought for the family.

Z

May his fishing in Heaven be as good..., no better than here! RIP.

I'm sorry to say that I only had the pleasure of meeting him once down in Colonet. He was a really cool guy and will be missed. Condolences to all his friends and family.

Very sad to hear - you wouldn't have even known he was battling cancer from his always-positive posts. He'll be missed.
Arne

Man, I'm so bummed to hear about this. I had the pleasure of meeting & fishing with him at Otay about a month ago. I know it sounds cliche but you would have never known he was struggling with anything, let alone fighting for his life; Steve struck me as someone who truly exuded positive energy. That was honestly my first impression, and it was a lasting one.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...l/IMGP1843.jpg

I'm very, very sorry to hear that. :(


He will be missed.

I'm very sorry to hear this. :( We'll miss you Chef.

Steve,
You were quick to become my friend. I will miss you and am saddened by my loss. I truly admire your courage and optimism. I hope we meet again on still, warm, blue waters. Good night my brother.

Andy

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...steve-otay.jpg

I know a few of you got to meet Stephen when we came down with PAL to fish at Colonet. His optimism and energy was unbelievable...a good friend and a great person.

Like you saw at Colonet, Chef liked to do two things: fish and feed his friends. If they weren't friends, he fed them anyways, and then they WERE friends! His cullinary skills were always the star of the show at our tourney in Elk.

You will likely see a bunch of his norteno friends in June. We filled the Islander in one day after chartering a memorial trip to SCI. We leave June 3rd. Hope to see some of you guys at LJ before we load up Sunday night. There will be an on the water memorial in Big Sur TBA. You are all welcome to join us.

Thanks for your kind words.

Very sad news. I did not know him, but I have only heard good things. Rest in peace.

-Patrick

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6)

"...that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4)

Rest in Peace Chef

Sorry to hear the news.

To his family and friends, I am sorry for your loss.

Mark