Born: March 1, 1948 URS: June 2, 2024
Stephen Gibel Blechman – aka Santa Rosa Steve, the Big Kahuna, Big Daddy, Karim, Big Grandpa – flew
out of his body in the wee hours of June 2, 2024 due to advanced heart failure. “I had a great life.” One
sister, two wives, two sons (“I breed musicians”), two grandsons, one nephew, and many friends and
dogs orbited around this big-hearted man throughout his life.
Born 3/1/48 in Manhattan, NY, Steve grew up in Great Neck. He studied Sociology/Anthropology at Lake
Forest College in Chicago and social work at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. He chose to live in Sonoma
County for most of his life, until moving to Portland, OR for the last 16 years to be an active grandpa.
He applied his brilliant mind to create a meaningful life. Success in professional poker, real estate and the
stock market allowed him to provide sustenance and a whole lot of fun for himself and his friends and
family, as well as support social service charities. He deeply touched many lives by teaching Nonviolent
Communication (NVC) in CA and OR prisons and jails for sixteen years as a volunteer. He believed this
was his most important work beyond raising his kids.
Camping, concerts and music festivals, reading, movies, games, growing food and flowers, annual trips
to Hawaii and Mexico, and dinner with loved ones were how he chose to spend his time and treasure. So
many Grateful Dead shows! And Chinese food! And poker! And jokes!
Steve was authentic and lived life his way. He had a great sense of humor and was a great
conversationalist. He valued friends and family, dogs, music, beauty, gardening, good food, good jokes,
the beach, pot, poker, travel, Sufism, and practicing NVC. Above all, he valued connection with others…
“the key to happiness is nourishing life.”
Predeceased by parents, Fela Gibel and Morton Blechman, sister Helen Glennon, and first wife
Constance Coughlan. Survived (and greatly missed by) wife, Mary Hansel, sons Benjamin and Nicholas
Blechman, daughters-in-law Sarah Hart and Raquel Blechman, grandsons Asher Hart-Blechman and
Caetano Blechman, and nephew Michael Glennon.
A memorial will be held at Ives Park in Sebastopol, CA on October 12, 2024, 1:00-4:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the International Rescue Organization:
https://help.rescue.org/donate/make-tribute-donation .
one of the poems Asha sent during my
husband’s bumpy recovery from open heart surgery:
good day dear friend,
while you are climbing the mountain of efforts you do not feel like making
use all of us, your truly loving friends who want you with us, as impetus,
a cheering section, beloveds, bosses, barking dogs, purring cats,
chirping birds and whatever else will help…
and forget your pride.
we know you are vulnerable.
ask us to love you.
we already do.
but asking in your heart will increase your vulnerability and make
you more receptive which will make you able to
receive our love!
freely given.
all love to you dear friend,
asha