STEPHEN STAFFORD

STEPHEN STAFFORD

Stephen Joseph Stafford was born on Oct. 4, 1961, in Lansing, Mich. He was the son of the late Evon Farhat and Horace Gilbert Stafford. On Feb. 6, 2013, at the age of 51, Steve passed away in an aircraft accident in Casa Grande, Ariz. He is survived by his best friend and fiance, Sandra J. Komula; his daughter, Sarah E. Stafford; his sister , Cynthia Stafford Lowe (Todd); his nieces Stephanie and Kimberly Lowe; his half siblings, William (Nancy) Katon and Martin Katon; numerous cousins; and his former wife of 20 years, Debra Stafford Saxton.

Steve grew up in Charlotte, Mich., and graduated from Charlotte High School in 1979. He later attended Lansing Community College. As a teen, he attended the National Music Camp at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Mich.

Steve was a pilot for most of his life. When he was 14, he began working around airplanes. At the age of 16, when most teenagers were dreaming of driving a car, Steve was soloing an aircraft. When he was 17, he earned his pilot's license. His first official passenger was his mother. In the years that followed, he continued to excel, adding many ratings and licenses. In Michigan, he was a flight instructor and a commercial pilot, flying freight day or night, rain or shine.

Teaching was a passion of Steve's. While accumulating over 10,000 hours of flight experience, he instructed more than 600 students. In the early 1980s, he moved to the Tucson area where he continued to fly commercially and instruct. Later he served as president of Fountain of Life School Board. Steve branched out his aviation experience by performing fixed base operations management, expert consultation and testimony, movie consultation, and aircraft sales. Most recently, Steve's work centered on aircraft sales and consultation, as well as advanced transitional and recurrent training. He was the co-manager of Tucson Aeroservice Center Inc. and manager of their sales department. Professional affiliations included the National Business Aircraft Association and the Arizona Business Aircraft Association.

Steve lived life with exuberance. In addition to aviation, he loved to fish, ski, hike and ride motorcycles building rockets, radio control airplanes, the shooting range and bowling. But most of all, his life was centered on his three loves "" Sarah, Sandy and Sedona, his golden retriever. He was a "best and loyal friend" to many. The last six years of his life, he resided in Green Valley. Steve had reached a point in his life where the pieces of the puzzle fit, he was truly content. Those who knew Steve know that he had so much more to offer; he will be missed.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Tucson Aeroservice Center, Inc., 11700 W. Avra Valley Rd., Marana, AZ 85653. In lieu of flowers and with respect for Steve's passion for the gift of flight, please consider a contribution to the Wright Flight, Inc., 7075 S. Plumer Ave., Suite 14, Tucson, AZ 85756 or www.wrightflight.org.

Steve comes from a family of gifted storytellers. In his memory, and for the benefit of his daughter and future generations, the family is collecting a book of stories and pictures about Steve's colorful life. We are asking anyone who knew Steve, from any time or place in his life, to send your memories to skomula@gmail.com, or bring them with you to the memorial service. An electronic version of the finished product will also be available upon request.