Steven W. "Steve" Bly

1939 - 2023

Boise, Idaho - Steven Wayne Bly passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2023 from long illness at the age of 84.

Steve was an outdoor adventurer who lived each day to the fullest, planned for the future, seldom looked back and never pondered in the negative. Nothing seemed to deter him in a life life well lived that was an inspiration to many.

Steve was born in Iola, Kansas the only child of Wayne Albert and Lois Ethel Bly.

He grew up in Lawrence, Kansas participating in high school football, basketball,

baseball, track and swim teams and a little "noodling for catfish" in his spare time. He loved sports then and always. On school summer breaks he ventured West in his mom's old Packard Coupe with buddies, working in conservation and firefighting in the Kaniksu National Forest in northern Idaho and Glacier National Park on the trail crew. This is where his love for outdoor adventure and conservation captured his heart and Kansas lost him for good. He attended college at Pittsburg State University in Wichita, playing halfback for the Gorillas football team and earning his bachelor's degree in Education, followed by a master's degree in recreation administration from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Following college, Steve interned for the Milwaukee, WI municipal recreation and adult education. He later became recreation supervisor for the Denver, CO senior center. When a job out West opened, he jumped at the opportunity and accepted a position with the Seattle Parks and Recreation department as their Recreation Supervisor. Several months later he took a promotional opportunity and moved to Lewiston, ID to become their new Director of Lewiston-Clarkston Parks & Recreation. There he spent several years building new parks and improving existing ones, while bringing the community together through events and activities. He even fixed a beautiful old blue fountain that hadn't worked for many years in Pioneer Park ... it was a big deal locally and water at last! Steve's work to bring the Lewiston-Clarkston park system back to life did not go unnoticed from local, state and national organizations, including being a finalist in a national Gold Medal Award contest. In 1971 Steve accepted a position with Idaho State Parks, Boise, ID as their Director under Governor Cecil Andrus. Steve's leadership highlights over five years included the creation of the Idaho Foundation for Parks & Lands and, the first urban state park Idaho (Veterans Memorial), helping save the old Idaho Penitentiary, hiring the first woman park ranger, and planning Harriman State Park with Roland and Gladys Harriman.

Steve next became the Assistant Director of Operations for Washington State Parks, Olympia, WA where he met Pamela Stegman who later became his wife. Steve left Washington State Parks with the appointment of a new Governor.

Steve longed to get back to his true love ... Idaho. Steve made some phone calls and drove to Boise to interview with Bob Hansberger of Futura Corporation, who owned Mackay Bar Ranch, other properties, several whitewater rafting and big game hunting permits. Steve managed the properties for a year and wrote a marketing plan to promote a Frank Church Wilderness adventure experience at Mackay Bar Ranch, big game hunt pack trips on horse and in camps, and white water rafting down "The River of No Return" and the Middle Fork of Salmon rivers. Once Steve settled in Boise, he proposed marriage to Pam ... she said "yes", and their lives together began on the South Fork of the Salmon at Hettinger Ranch where they were married for over 43+ years.

Steve next became the Tourism Director of the Boise Visitor & Convention Bureau. This is before a physical convention center was built. Frustrated by the lack of images to promote the beautiful "City of Trees" and nearby Idaho destinations to entice tourism and convention groups to come to Idaho, Steve bought his first camera. He embraced photography with Pam as his model, spending time in Boise and Sun Valley with photographer friends to hone his skills. Little did he know that this camera would change his life in a beautiful way. At age 50, after years of public services and politics, he was determined to work for himself and start his own wildly successful business, Steve Bly Photography.

For years Steve was the recipient of the State of Idaho bid for new photography to be used in all regions within the State to promote tourism. He also traveled the world, including all of Europe, Mexico, Central America, Turkey, Africa, New Zealand, Bali and other islands, Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Norway, Iceland and more. His photography appeared in thousands of publications locally, domestically and internationally. He was a member and recognized by the Society of American Travel Writers for his award-winning photography multiple times. He also consulted as public relations for the Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association to promote tourism and also represented Beamer's Landing, jetboat excursions on the Snake River in Hells Canyon. Steve published one of the first Boise City coffee table books which was very popular for years. At the apex of his career, four stock agencies competed to represent his images. His notoriety as a professional photographer got him consignment work from countries around the world wanting to promote their tourism. Steve's images have graced more than 200 magazines, elegant calendars, and "coffee table" photography books in addition to twice earning "Photographer of the Year" by prestigious Society of America Travel Writers. Steve's love for Idaho was expressed many times throughout the years by his generosity in donating framed prints to raise funds for Idaho land preservation and conservation.

Steve Bly touched many, leaving a positive impact on both the people and the land he loved --- Idaho.

No interment; cremation was his final wish. Spreading of his ashes with family at

a later time.

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Pam; his son, Brady Bly; and his granddaughter, Ali Bly.

In leu of flowers , the family requests that contributions be made to:

The Nature Conservancy/Idaho Chapter in the memory of Steven W. Bly.

Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100,

Arlington, VA 22203 or https://www.nature.org/idaho

Please visit Steve's memorial webpage at www.bowmanfuneral.com, where you can comment, if desired.