Sidney Leo Stebel

A giant in the art of teaching writers. It only took one workshop for him to help me find my story. It was so easy for him...like waving a magic wand. All of us who are regulars at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference will miss his genius.

Sid was a terrific mentor and teacher in USC's professional writing program who I was lucky enough to be befriended by in 2007 during my graduate program there, and with whom I enjoyed some outings together with his wonderful wife Karen, who I also became fast friends with and adore to this day. Sid was such a supporter of my work and my goals, and that alone often gave me confidence in my own abilities. I will miss him--I liked just knowing he was here, doing his thing, whether I saw him or...

We will miss Sid but he is always in our hearts

Seldom is someone's dignity so present that it blossoms love and kindness in those who cross paths with them. Your beauty remains to radiate through us all.

Sid was the finest writing instructor I ever had the privilege to work with, but more than that, I had the privilege to call him my friend. May he rest well in the knowledge that the world is a better place because he was once here.

The world feels smaller without Sid in it. I can only be glad he was around as long as he was, and that I got to know him a bit. He tried always to help others reach their dreams. We've lost a truly generous teacher.

Ray Bradbury was right. Sid was the "best writing teacher there ever was." I met him at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference nearly 30 years ago and never looked at literature, or movies, in the same way. You might not know what story you were trying to tell, but Sid did. That's why people called him the "story dowser." I will miss his laugh, his insight and his way of looking at the world. My heart goes out to his wife, Karen, who was his rock.

Our family and friends will miss you, Sid. The world has lost a very good man.