Farewell Stephen

I first met Stephen Claussen in March of 1998 when I arrived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium to begin a long-term filming assignment for Ocean Futures, documenting Keiko’s ongoing husbandry, rehabilitation and relocation to Iceland.  Steve and I became friends as soon as we met and it was as simple and amazing as that.   From the get-go, Steve was immeasurably helpful in bringing me up to speed on a multitude of scientific and behavioral tasks that were happening at the facility and made me feel welcome and right at home when I first arrived and throughout my filming efforts. Little did I know, that assignment would last until well into 2001 and. it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and memorable of my career.  I count that time as some of the happiest days of my professional life, and Steve was an important part of all that happiness.

Steve possessed a rare human quality:  I believe down deep, he truly enjoyed helping other people.  He didn’t just help you out because it was the right thing to do --  I always sensed that he found satisfaction and a special kind of joy in the process.  It might be late in the day and he might be very tired, but if you asked him for a helping hand, he was right there for you.   I have fond memories of many a cold and tiresome day off the coast of Iceland, when Steve would return onshore with all of us, only to go back to work again in the kitchen, enthusiastically cooking a magnificent and artful dinner for the whole crew and enjoying himself in the process.  I am certain if Steve’s interest in the environment wasn’t so strong, he could surely have made a great living as a gourmet chef and restaurateur.  It is, however, no wonder Steve chose the professional path he did as he had an intense love for nature and wildlife....or even a  a friendly dog who might be visiting Keiko’s facility and in need of a pat on the head or a chin scratch.   The guy loved animals and I loved that about him.

From my vantage point behind the video camera, I discovered Steve was also a natural-born teacher who loved sharing his knowledge with people whether someone was a senior citizen or a toddler in preschool – it didn’t matter.  I can remember vividly the high-pitched laughter echoing off the concrete walls of the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s public underwater observation area as hordes of local school kids gathered around its huge windows.  You could just feel the joy and wonder in the air emitting from these kids as Steve lectured to them about Keiko and killer whales, as Keiko would look on from inside the tank.  I can’t even imagine how many young people’s lives he enriched with his good-natured and patient style with so many young ones who wanted to know everything about orcas.   It is a task that might wear out most people pretty quickly; I got the feeling Steve was energized by the process.    

Steve also taught me a thing or two as well – even though he didn’t have an advanced science degree, he had acquired -- via lots of field work -- an amazing amount of knowledge about marine life in general and marine mammals in particular.  He also knew that there was a big difference between information and knowledge.  He reinforced in me my belief that no matter what path of education one chooses for enlightenment, if a person truly has passion and ambition and works their butt off, great things can happen.   Steve was exactly that type of person.  Steve also taught me that one of the most

important pieces of equipment, which any marine first aid kit should include, is an industrial-grade size sense of humor.  I can remember many a stormy day out on the bay pen when gale-force winds were hammering down Klettsvik Bay, and things were getting dicey.  The whole pen was swaying in the ocean swell.  The wind was blowing so forcefully that the sides of the science hut were flexing inward on us and we could feel the pressure building in our eardrums.  Sometimes things didn’t look good as far as our getting back on shore, but in the middle of it all Steve would look out the rain drenched window as it was being pounded by salt spray and out of nowhere he’d make a joking remark that would just totally crack me up.  It might just be a cynical but funny observation about the situation; or he might make a comment about our near-death situation, all the while smiling ear to ear, knowing in his heart everything was going to be OK.  And thanks to our great marine operations crew, things always did turn out OK, despite some storm damage to the pen.    Some of the knowledge I gained from Steve was seriously scientific, especially with regard to killer whale physiology and health requirements  – and it was very interesting stuff.    And to keep things in balance I also learned from Steve to appreciate the wonderful music of Greystone and a variety of great Celtic tunes; I also learned just how far the average human being can accurately throw an freshly thawed-out herring sideways across the wind while wearing rubber fishing gloves -- and on a cold winter Icelandic night in Vestmannaeyjar he also helped introduce me to the first aid/recuperative powers of sipping Jameson’s fine Irish whisky, a lesson for which I was a dutiful and grateful student.

Over the past week or so since receiving the tragic news of Steve’s passing, I have remained somewhat shocked and in disbelief, and a bit numb.   It is a very sad thing, that someone so special, someone who was such a positive force in the world had to leave us at such a young age, but as I ponder Steve’s life it is comforting to remember that he really lived while he was here – he followed his dreams; he experienced incredible adventures; he saw a great deal of this world while he listened to that all important internal drummer and pursued his love of nature and the environment. Like so many other people who have accomplished great things in their lives, only to leave us all too soon, Steve’s life was also a crowded hour – but what a wonderful hour it was.  I will miss you Steven, and will always feel very lucky to have known you and to have spent time at sea with you.  If anyone can connect with Keiko in spirit, I know it will be you.  I wish you a peaceful voyage, my friend, while you ride the light.

Chuck Davis

.  I WORKED WITH STEVE INITIALLY AS A FELLOW VOLUNTEER DOWN AT "THE ROCK" AT PT DEFIANCE UP UNTIL HE MOVED TO OREGON FOR THE KEIKO ADVENTURE.  I VISITED THE KEIKO CREW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS ABLE TO BE OF SOME SMALL ASSIST DURING THE MOVE TO ICELAND. STEVIE WAS JUST THE BEST.  EVEN THOUGH HIS TEMP DAYS AT PT DEFIANCE WERE VERY FRUSTRATING AT TIMES, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE TRULY HAD A TALENT FOR WORKING WITH MARINE MAMMALS.  HIS SENSE OF HUMOR WAS HILARIOUS AND WAS OFTEN THE STRESS BUSTER FOR SOME VERY LONG AND TENSE DAYS.  HE ALWAYS MANAGED TO SEE THE LITTLE ABSURDITIES IN THE SITUATIONS AND MADE THE MOST OF THEM TO THE MIRTH OF ALL WITHIN EARSHOT.  HIS TAKE OFF OF JM COUSTEAU WAS TOO FUNNY!  WHAT IMPRESSED ME MOST ABOUT STEVE WAS HIS INTENSE LOYALTY TO FRIENDS AND HIS INCREDIBLE WORK ETHIC.  UNDERNEATH THE "FUN STEVIE" WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS DEADLY SERIOUS ABOUT HIS WORK AND THE ANIMALS ENTRUSTED TO HIS CARE. MY SYMPATHIES TO ALL, NOT ONLY FAMILY, BUT FRIENDS WHO LOVED HIM.    KATHY STARK-GENDRON

Dear Dana and other family members,

You might not remember me, but I was your history teacher at Bellevue High.  Also, Steve was a student of mine in the US History Class and American Government  Class.  In addition he was an active member of our Human Rights Committee.

Every once in awhile I have a motion picture in my head of the thousands of students who came through my classroom.  One of the  pictures which is in slow motion is of Steve.  I remember him as a humorous, sensitive, straightforward guy.  I remember Steve and his friend Jon Foster and all of their enthusiasm for our Human Rights Committee.

It was a shock when I read of his death in the newspaper.  As a teacher and parent you always think of the adults dying first, never your kids or students.  It sounds as if he had lead an interesting and important life.  It sounds like he had wonderful friends who will have wonderful memories of him.

I just wanted to let you know that there are still some teachers around who remember Steve with the very best of memories.  You have my most sincere sympathy on this very sad day.

- Joel Seidel