Stephen Emil Arndt

Stephen Emil Arndt (SEA), 77, passed away on February 5, 2026, in Portland, Oregon, after a years-long standoff with heart failure. He was born on November 3, 1948, in Durango, Colorado, and moved with his family to Lake Oswego as a child, making the Portland area his lifelong home. Steve’s life was grounded in a deep connection to water, a lifelong devotion to writing, and a genuine commitment to the people and communities he loved.

Water was a constant companion throughout Steve’s life. He began as a competitive swimmer and later turned that passion into his first profession as a swim coach in Lake Oswego, where he shared not only technique but a philosophy of discipline and patience. His love for rivers led him to work as a fly-fishing guide in the Pacific Northwest, and later he found joy in surfing the cold waters of the Pacific.

Alongside his time outdoors, Steve built a career as a municipal bond salesman before returning to what had long been a private calling—writing. He was an active and devoted participant in Portland’s literary community, studying with mentors including Monica Drake, Tom Spanbauer through Dangerous Writers, and Joanna Rose and Steven Allred at Pinewood Table. His work appeared in McKenzie Creel, Clackamas Literary Review, and The Untold Gaze, and he recently co-authored a piece with Olympic swim coach Don Gambril, bringing together two of his lifelong passions. He co-founded the annual Portland Writers Picnic, held each year in Laurelhurst Park, and helped launch the reading series Steve Arndt and the Spanbauerians.

He had a gift for bringing writers together, championing those around him, welcoming new voices into the community, and being the first to show up at Powell’s and save a seat for you.

Steve explored and expanded his life as a avid book collector, a diligent curator of Grateful Dead bootlegs, a familiar presence in his favorite coffee shops, and a regular cyclist through Portland’s neighborhoods. Friends and family will remember the distinctive “SEA” energy he brought into a room—thoughtful, wry, deeply present—“the whole shootin’ match.”

Stephen is survived by his children and four siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Lois Arndt. His life leaves behind a current that continues in the stories, waters, and communities he cherished.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on March 29, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 3rd Floor, Pearl Room. All are welcome.

Our family would like to send our deepest gratitude to Powell’s for their support and for offering the most perfect space to celebrate SEA.