Last night started as one of those nights here in the neighborhood that makes you proud to live here. The Dickens Carolers sounded sweet, and neighbors were gathering from all over to hear, and also gather for some sweets at another neighbor's house. What I love about these events is that once you have been here for just a short while, you seem to know almost everyone you pass in some capacity. It's a real neighborhood, as opposed to one thrown together with a homeowners association which forces you to participate in things. These people gather because they like each other, and they all have at least one thing in common; they love Seminole Heights and the history behind it. One of our greatest assets in that department (and many others) was Steve Gluckman. He was the first person I started talking with before I even moved here, he was very welcoming and by the time I met him in person at my first preservation meeting, I felt as though I already knew him. It's hard to say what our neighborhood would have been without him, but fortunately, due to his hard work, we do know what our neighborhood will be in the future because of him. I guess I am grateful I was able to chat with him for one last time last night. Still, it ended all too soon. I am still a bit in shock over Steve's passing, and it will be hard to pass his house without knocking when I am out delivering bread to neighbors for Christmas. But we are all fortunate to have known this man, and we will continue to reap the benefits of his work. Rest in peace, Steve....
6 comments:
Very well said Cara.
I think we are all still stunned at the suddenness of his passing and the loss of his knowledge of the neighborhood. He was a founding boardmember of OSHNA (20 yrs ago)and a strong advocate of historic preservation. We must take comfort that he was doing what he loved best - socializing with those neighbors that loved living in OSH as much as he did.
Greg
I'm one of Steve's 13 first cousins--much beloved of him and,like everyone, not believing this loss. I'm in Massachusetts and too snowed in to get down for Saturday's memorial--I wanted to thank everyone who has put their thoughts on the web. It means a lot to me to hear about Steve...If anyone chances to record Saturday's service--and the Old Seminole Neighborhood Assoc knows how to contact you--I (and I think all the family) would be grateful for a chance to hear it.--Dan
I knew a couple people were taking pictures and at least one was filming. If anyone is reading this who was capturing the service, is there something we can send up north to Steve's family there? BTW, it was a wonderful service.....and plenty of free food!
Cara,
Speak with Susan Long about the recording of the memorial. I have been told the couple creating the documentary for the 'hood were there filming. Or check with Suzanne.
Greg
"There was nothing that had happened in the past which was not of living interest to him....While the egoism of most men inspires them to the composition of a work which shall make them forever famous, he lavished his gifts in talk, and made his friend a sharer, as it were, in his own talent....In conversation no subject came amiss to him, because he was familiar with all; but he was so richly endowed with humour that he regarded nothing with an overserious eye....he has lived his life; he has scattered his learning with a generous hand; he has bequeathed a memory of affection to all who knew him...."
I am an old friend of Steve from over 30 yrs. ago who only recently renewed our friendship and began exchanging emails with him. I, too, am grateful for the web comments and insanely envious of all the conversations and experiences shared and enjoyed over the years with Steve by friends and neighbors. I was so looking forward to many new exchanges of my own with him.
I was there this past Saturday at the Memorial Service, and having heard all the testimonials and read the on-line blogs, the above quote seemed to be calling Steve's name to me.
Thank you all--Jeremy, Cara, Tommy, Dorte (I found your brief comments on Tommy's blog especially comforting), Susan, all those who spoke on Saturday whose names I can't remember, all the bloggers--for painting such a vivid picture of a living, breathing Steve for those of us at a distance.
Fondly,
Ginny Howard
A few words about a friend …
After purchasing my first building in Seminole Heights at the corner of Central & Hanna in Seminole Heights in 1991, I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Gluckman. My purchase of the building was to relocate my photography studios… Steve had been making photos for many years, so this is were Steve & I ‘s friendship began, I staring showing up to Steve’s Friday art gatherings, in the mid-90’s to about 2002 we salvaged many houses in Tampa for wood flooring, windows, doors, etc. Since that then we shared lunch probably 40 times a year, say 600+ lunches …. conversation of neighborhoods, historic preservation, politics, the 9-11 attacks, the War, education, finances, the economy, taxes, religion, the internet, medicine, music, food, women & rare occasions we would discuss how to be a great parent and raise wonderful children ….. Funny Thing is neither one of us had any children. I’m sure we did this to help our friend Bill Duvall. However, Bill should rest comfortably knowing Steve did his homework & read about it in a book!
Steve has a knack for floating ideas, view points that seemed on the surface unique and / or sometimes bazaar --- however when it came right down to it Steve was challenging you to think about the entire issue and perhaps from a different vantage point than the one you started with . Steve was still being a Professor ……….. Minus the classroom.
Steve had a thirst for knowledge which I greatly admired about him. Last week he called to ask for my help with a new digital camera he had received as a birthday gift. I gave Steve a few pointers about the camera and explained that it would take a while to understand the camera, its controls and that digital imaging sees and records light different than film. And, then I did what any good Teacher or Professor would do – I told Steve go home and read his camera manual. This week Steve informed me of his internet tutorials for his new I-Pod his brother Jeremy given him for his 70th birthday. Steve was excided about being able to download photos to the I-Pod. I responded by saying he just wanted to show off his etchings to all the ladies.
Steve we want to say a few words about the neighborhood and the neighborhood association in which he was so committed too. In last couple of years he was deeply bothered about the lack of transparency regarding many issues! Steve felt that communication had been missing and issues being decided by too few people or decided prior to a board meeting. Steve wasn’t upset by the outcome of the issues or being on the losing end of an issue, but by the process. Steve was always true to his thoughts several years ago I rezoned my properties at Central & Hanna Avenue’s. Steve was not in support of my rezoning.
Steve and I also had many conversations regarding his family ….. His family was in the agricultural business (citrus groves)….. There was a hotel in Miami, etc. During many of these conversations he referred to his brother Jeremy, who practices law here in Tampa. During the sixteen years of conversations Jeremy’s name came up many, many times.
Let me preference this next story by saying I used to tell Steve he was the smartest person, I knew! I once made this statement at lunch with others and I could tell it made Steve very uncomfortably ….. Steve felt any of us could be smarter by educating ourselves, reading (ie doing our homework!) However, from time to time between Steve & myself, I would still refer to him as the Smartest Person I Knew!
Early this year I had a need for some legal counsel, so I called Jeremy . After hearing his name so many times, I had this mental picture of him ! MY picture of Jeremy was as Follows: a gentleman about 6’2” – 6” 3”, dark hair, wire rim glasses and very intelligent like Steve. Upon arriving at his office I was escorted to the conference room. A few short minutes later Mr. Jeremy Gluckman arrived ……… my visions were off a bit! !
You see Jeremy looked like Steve’s twin to me ……. Jeremy is younger and is slimmer . About 5 minutes into the legal issues … I realized I was listening to one of the brightest, most articulate people I had ever met. So I interrupted Jeremy and asked the following question … are all you Gluckmans so intelligent …… Jeremy responded by saying that they came from good stock! And, with a big smile on his face Jeremy was quick to point out that by far he was the “Brightest of ALL the Gluckmans”.
After I left Jeremy’s office, I picked Steve up for our scheduled lunch ….. as soon as Steve opened the door to my truck I said “ I finally met someone smarter than You”, Steve chucked and said O’ Yeah …… I said the gentleman was extremely bright, intelligent, well educated, well read and had a wonderful command of the English language. I informed Steve that I told this person that I knew Dr. Steve Gluckman. And, that this individual even went so far as say “… He was smarter than Steve Gluckman” ….. Steve still had no idea who I was speaking of, because I had not informed Steve of my meeting with Jeremy. So then, I informed him that I had just spent a couple of hours with Dr. Jeremy Gluckman ….. Steve got a kick out of that ….. Several blocks down the road , my thoughts were on the driving …..Steve said you know “ He Probably Is “ I said “ He Probably is” ??
“What “??? Jeremy is probably smarter ! We both had A big laugh !
In the 16 years I’ve known Steve Gluckman, I have never heard Steve speak ill or ugly about anyone …… there would be times I or someone else might say something about someone and Steve would always say something to either cover for that person or tell me I needed to take a different approach,
So that I would get the result I was looking for …. I used to think he was just being politically correct ….. however after 16 years !
Steve and I have had multiply conversations regarding dying and dying with dignity …. Steve was very concerned about a prolonged illness and becoming a burden upon his family! Steve’s passing was a shock to all of us….. However, I did find some solitude (this past week) knowing Steve didn’t have to suffer through a prolonged illness.
Steve & I shared many conversations, thoughts, ideas and laughs. We broke bread together, and judging by my waistline probably a few too many times !
“ The Doctor ” or “ Stevie G “ as I sometimes referred to him as .. made my life better !
Steve Gluckman was A Great Friend
We could all use a few more Steve’s in our lives!
Dirk Peters
Post a Comment