Steven Ronald Litwer—“Steve”—was born December 19, 1952 in the Bronx Naval Hospital, Bronx, NY to Nathan Litwer and Evelyn Litwer (née Berkowitz). On June 12, 2024, at the age of 71, Steve passed peacefully at his home in Overland Park, KS. He had only received his diagnosis of Stage Four kidney cancer six months prior to his death.
Steve was a force of nature. His energy, creativity, enthusiasm, and sense of humor inspired many in his successful career in radio, television, and cable advertising sales. His first love was a guitar…many guitars over the years. He liked the saying “Love one woman…many guitars.” Steve had an entrepreneurial spirit. When he was 16, he did the classic Boomer thing of starting a garage band. In his forties, he attended guitar camps to learn delta blues, and finger style guitar. He shared his gift with family, colleagues and friends. Steve spent the last seven years playing guitar for hospice patients. This experience inspired him to write a book about the healing gifts he received from playing for people who could not heal. “The Music Between Us: Memoir of a Bedside Musician” is a story of love, loss, and life-long healing that is both highly personal and surprisingly universal.
He craved a family, and together, we created one through adoption of two beautiful bi-racial girls. Of all the things he accomplished in life, he was most proud of his two daughters and four grandkids.
His daughters’ tributes to him express much of his soul:
“My dad was an incredible force. He was full of love and laughter, wisdom and wise-ass, quiet courage and not-so-quiet intensity. He was my biggest cheerleader and he shaped who I am today. We lost him on June 12th. He was such a big personality - he filled the room - and his presence will be missed by so many. I am lucky to have called him Dad.”
-Ariel
~~~
“It is with a heavy aching heart that I share that for the first Father’s Day in 36 years, we only had my dad in spirit. He crossed over into heaven on June 12th. My dad was everything to our family. Together he and my mom provided my sister and me with a very special childhood, full of laughs, memories and family adventures. I cannot recall one day in the last 36 years where I ever doubted my dad ‘s love for me. I knew he was there no matter what. He was there for us all. He was the ultimate grandpa to my kids. They were joy and light in his life and he in theirs. He was so much to so many. He had a magnetic personality and will be deeply deeply missed by all who knew him. Thank you Dad, for everything you gave me. I love you very much always.”
-Stephanie
~~~
Steve is survived by his wife of forty years, Cynthia, his daughters: Stephanie (husband Terrance) and Ariel (husband Anthony), four grandchildren, Elijah, Gabby, Teegan (Stephanie), and Ellis (Ariel), two brothers: Mitchell (wife Diantha), their children Laura and Gabe, and Stuart (wife Debbie), their children Justin and Kady (husband Stephen) and great-nephew Austin.
A Celebration of Life service for Steve was held on July 13, 2024 at Christ Church Anglican in Overland Park, KS. He was interred in the columbarium garden at Christ Church.
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