Stephen M Blanding

Stephen M. Blanding, 58, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on November 24, 2025, in Washington State, where he had been lovingly cared for over the past seven months. He is survived by his children, Keagan and Ava Blanding; his parents, Barry Blanding and Patricia Calistri; his stepfather, Gene Calistri; his sister, Karen Gibbs; his brother-in-law, Bob Gibbs; his niece and nephews, Rylie, Hayden, and Jackson; his aunts, Rosie DiRienzo and Judy Blanding; and many cousins.

Born in Maryland and raised in Binghamton, New York, Steve was a 1985 graduate of Chenango Forks High School. He attended Gettysburg College before earning his bachelor's degree in architecture from the University at Buffalo in 1990.

Steve began his architectural career at Norm Davies Architecture in Binghamton before moving to Tucson, Arizona, where he joined PAA Architects. He later made his way to California, settling first in Hemet while working at STK Architecture. In time, he transitioned into a new field, founding Blanding Consulting, a computer consulting company he owned and operated for more than twenty years. During his decades in California, he also lived in Temecula and later Spring Valley.

Above all else, Steve was a devoted and loving father. Keagan and Ava were the center of his world, and he approached fatherhood with the same enthusiasm, humor, and generosity that defined every part of his life. He was endlessly proud of them—of their accomplishments and of who they are becoming. His greatest joy was being their dad, and he carried that joy with him always.

Athletic throughout his life, Steve especially loved CrossFit and staying active. Fitness was more than a pastime for him—it was a source of community, challenge, and joy. He enjoyed traveling, discovering new places, and sharing the music that spoke to him. He had a natural gift for helping others and moved through the world with warmth, humor, creativity, curiosity, and genuine kindness. These qualities remained with him through his final days, when he expressed deep love and gratitude to those who visited.

For the past five years, Steve lived with a debilitating neurological disease. While the illness changed him profoundly, its one grace was that he was largely spared from understanding the progression and impact of his condition. True to his spirit, whenever anyone asked how he was doing—even in his final days—he would confidently say he was "Fantastic." Family and friends bore the heartbreak of witnessing his decline, but found comfort in knowing he never fully felt the weight of his illness.

Because Steve touched so many lives in the places he called home, two Celebrations of Life will be held—one in California and one in Binghamton, New York—during the spring and summer of 2026. For those who would like to learn more about the disease or support others facing similar neurological conditions, information about CurePSP can be found at: www.curepsp.org