Steve Anthony Peña

Steve Peña (1973-2025)
World Champion Blind Powerlifter

A true champion - in powerlifting and in life - Steve was known for his courage, his humor, and his heart of gold. He inspired everyone who had the honor of knowing him.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce that our beloved Steve Anthony Peña, 51, of Morgan Hill, died on July 24, 2025.

Born to Anthony and Julianna, Steve was their firstborn child and brought them overwhelming joy. He was born in San Jose, California, on December 26, 1973.

Steve's Childhood

As children, Steve and his sister, Julene, were taken on many great adventures by their parents. Steve loved playing at the beach with his wheelbarrow. The family enjoyed road trips in their motor home and camping with their dogs, Cookie and Boomer. Together, they visited the Grand Canyon, Disneyland and Mexico.

Steve loved riding his bike. From the very first time he tried- his dad running alongside him- Steve quickly took off on his own while his mom looked on proudly. Steve loved playing video games with his friends, especially Pac-Man and Super Mario Brothers. He also enjoyed going to Chuck E. Cheese and playing arcade games. Steve really liked soccer and he played several seasons. He played baseball on the A's and his dad was the coach. During baseball, he started losing his vision but he did very well playing catcher as he still had his central vision. After seeing many eye doctors, he was finally diagnosed at Stanford with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare progressive eye disease. He was 9 years old. It was soon discovered that he had a rare syndrome that caused the RP, which also included kidney abnormalities.

His eyesight gradually deteriorated over the next 9 years, and he became completely blind by 18. But Steve did not let this stop him he faced these challenges with courage. At 13, he had a paper route- riding his bike with his dog, on a leash. As his vision declined, he memorized delivery routes and customers' payment schedules. He also mowed lawns and washed cars to earn extra spending money. He was a young entrepreneur.

Steve was of mixed ethnicities- Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Native American, and French. He was often mistaken for being from Hawaii or Samoa. He spent quality time with all of his grandparents. He loved watching the World Wrestling Federation with his maternal grandparents, Ling and Connie Chin. A highlight of his childhood was when they took him to see Hulk Hogan at the Cow Palace- a dream come true. Steve also enjoyed spending time with his paternal grandmother, Mitsue, who introduced him to his love of sashimi and katsudon. His patemal grandfather, Henry, drove him weekly to train in Monterey with a talented lifting team. Henry would also make one of Steve's favorite meals- chorizo, egg, and potato burritos. His aunty Mitsy would always make Steve laugh and smile.

If there is one word to describe Steve, it would be Champion. Not only did he become a National and World Champion in Powerlifting- he was a Champion in Life. Steve was incredibly lucky to have two loving, supportive, and kind parents who worked so hard to give him the best life possible. They moved to the best neighborhoods in San Jose so Steve could attend the top schools and have the greatest opportunities. He went to Hacienda, a science magnet elementary school. Then, he attended Bret Harte and Castillero Middle Schools, followed by Leland and Willow Glen High Schools. He transferred schools as needed based on which campus could best support him through his vision loss.

The Peña family had a pool in their backyard, where they shared many fun memories together. They had countless pool parties and Steve enjoyed swimming. He would do 30 laps without stopping. His sister is proud to say that her brother saved her life in the pool when she had a leg cramp in the deep end. He swam over and rescued her.

Steve played on the Leland High School football team and charged through opponents with help from his teammates. who guided him on which direction to go. He later joined the wrestling team. His best friend since age 11, Christopher encouraged Steve to join the team. On the wrestling team, Steve was known as "Gumby" because of his incredible flexibility. He went on to letter in varsity wrestling and track and field. In 1993, he was a finalist for the prestigious Hal Connolly Scholar-Athlete Award.

After graduating from Willow Glen High School, Steve earned his Associate of Arts degree at De Anza College. He then became a Certified Massage Therapist. This was a major accomplishment, especially given that he was completely blind by that time.

A Powerlifter was born

Christopher and his father, Leo, introduced Steve to weightlifting when he was 16 years old. Steve didn't need his vision to lift weights and once he started, he never looked back. He quickly began competing in bench press meets, and that's when his powerlifting journey truly began. He was hooked. Steve became obsessed with breaking records. He would gain or cut weight just to qualify for different classes all for the chance to set as many records as he could. And boy, did he break them.

At the age of 21, Steve was honored to be named to the United States Blind Powerlifting Team. He began traveling the world to represent his country. His parents were his biggest supporters and traveled with him to many competitions - including events in Brazil, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Canada, Miami, and Colorado Springs.

Powerlifting became Steve's true passion. He went on to break multiple records in both the blind and sighted divisions. He loved everything about the sport- from the bench press to the squat to the deadlift. His garage was filled with weights and equipment, and it became his home gym. His dad also competed in the bench press meets.

Steve competed in numerous powerlifting meets - locally, nationally, and internationally- and across several respected organizations including:

United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and the USA Blind Powerlifting Association:

-In 2003 at the USABA-National Qualifier, he Benched 230 kilos (507 lbs)
-He was the First Blind Powerlifter in the WORLD to Bench Press 500+ pounds!

-He is still ranked Number 1 in the All Time USA Blind Powerlifting using the Wilks formula.

-He still holds 6 National records for the USA Blind Powerlifting
100 Kilo Class
--2002 USABA National Qualifier, Squatted 250K
--2002 USABA National Qualifier, Totaled 695K
--2006 Rocky Mountain Games National Qualifier, Benched 227.5K
110 Kilo Class
--1997 USABA National Qualifier, Squatted 245K
--2003 USABA National Qualifier, Benched 230K
--2003 USABA National Qualifier, Totaled 712.5K

-He has also been nominated for for the USABA Hall of Fame

World Association of Bencher and Deadlifters (WABDL):
-His best ever Bench Press was 562.0 lbs in the 220 lb weight class- Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 03/17/07 in Chico, California
-In 2014, Steve was inducted to the WABDL Hall of Fame.

-He won a World Championship in the 220 Sub-Master Single Ply in 2007 with a 545 Bench.
-Steve currently holds the following WABDL World and State Records (in pounds)
-Bench Press
--562.0 in the 220 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 03/17/07
--462.7 in the 198 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 03/05/11
--523.5 in the 259 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 06/29/13
--523.5 in the 242 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 11/06/13
--501.5 in the 220 Disabled 2 Class men 40-59 on 03/08/14
-Deadlift
--562.0 in the 220 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 11/18/02
--473.7 in the 198 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 03/05/11
--534.5 in the 242 Disabled 2 Class men 20-39 on 11/06/13
--485.0 in the 220 Disabled 2 Class men 40-59 on 03/08/14

International Blind Sports Association (IBSA):
He won 5 Gold medals at the IBSA Powerlifting World Championships and has set several world records.
1. 1997 IBSA Worlds in Colorado Springs, CO.
642K Total in the 100K Class and set a World Record and won Gold.
He also received Best Heavyweight Lifting Honors
2. 2001 IBSA Worlds in Amsterdam, 637.5K Total in the 100K Class and he won Gold
3. 2003 IBSA Worlds in Kitchener, Canada, 697K Total in the 110K Class and set 3 World Record, 207K Bench, 250K Squat, 697K Total and won Gold
4. 2008 IBSA Worlds in Miami, FL, 205K Bench in the 100K Class and set a World Record and won Gold, 642.5K 3 Lift Total in the 100K Class and won Silver
5. 2009 IBSA Worlds in Miami, FL, 207.5K Bench in the 100K Class and set a World Record and won Gold
6. He was invited to compete in Seoul, Korea for the 2015 IBSA Worlds. Unfortunately he was not able to make this trip.

American Powerlifting Federation (APF)
-His best Total in the three lift meet is 1691 lbs in the 220 class in Redwood City in 2002.

USA Powerlifting (USAPL):
-Steve still holds the California Powerlifting Bench Record in the Men's Open 220 Class with a lift of 512.6 in Napa California on 01/13/07

Steve was deeply grateful to his family, coaches, and training partners for their constant support. A special thank you goes to his sponsors: Tony Miley from Groupware Technology, Challenged Athletes Foundation in San Diego, California, and Advanced Sports Nutrition in Hood River, Oregon.

In addition to his many gold medals, plaques, and trophies, Steve gained something even more valuable through powerlifting-his friendships.

Leo Contreras was the first to show Steve the ropes. As a teenager, Steve became involved with the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). One especially memorable experience was a dog sledding trip with USABA's Executive Director, Mark Lucas-an adventure that stayed close to Steve's heart. Through the United States Blind Powerlifting Team, Steve made many close friends, including teammates Nick Sinardi, Howard Mooney, and Omar Sanchez.

Steve proudly competed in the annual World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL) meet. Being completely blind, Steve was a source of inspiration to many. Everyone knew who Steve was. His guide dog, Ginger, also accompanied him to competitions and became a beloved, familiar presence at meets.

WABDL truly became Steve's lifting family. Gus Rethwisch, the founder of WABDL, recently said, "Steve was the most courageous lifter he has seen." Steve formed lasting friendships, including with Jim Presley and his wife, Peaches. Jim was always there to help Steve warm up and often spotted him in the bench press. Jim Sheffield and his wife, Shawna, were also dear friends. Sheffield helped train Steve and would spot him on the bench press. Both couples-Jim and Peaches, and Jim and Shawna-are not only world-class lifters but also world judges.

Years ago, Steve trained at Iron Society in Seaside with a crew of incredibly talented lifters: Matt LeMarque, Eric Ansberry, Yasu Kuroda, Steve Wong, Smo Soekardi, and Dan Tubridy. Together, they dominated in competitions and shared a powerful camaraderie.

Two of Steve's longtime training partners were Mark Laurel and Mike Gunion. Mark, a USPL star powerlifter, shared many years of training and good times with Steve, and will be offering prayers for him and the family at the funeral. Mike Gunion trained with Steve for years at Steve's home gym, and it was Steve who inspired Mike to begin competing in the bench press himself.


Steve also cherished many other friendships across the national and international Powerlifting community.

Last but certainly not least is his training partner and personal coach: his dad. Tony was by Steve's side through it all-helping him train, spotting his heavy lifts, assisting with warmups, getting his lifting shirts on, and guiding him to the platform when it was time. Their bond was unbreakable.

Powerlifting was in Steve's blood. He loved every aspect of the sport- the camaraderie with friends and fellow lifters, the adrenaline of competition, and the shared joy of pushing limits. He didn't enjoy starving to make weight, but the post-weigh-in dinners were always something he looked forward to. Powerlifting allowed him to travel across the country and around the world, building not just a legacy of achievement, but a lifetime of memories and friendships.

His story is one of strength, not just in the weight he lifted, but in the life he lived- and the lives he touched along the way.

Personal Life

Most importantly, Steve was always a courteous gentleman and a caring individual. His father remembers him as an unselfish and generous person who always put others first in everything he did. Whenever something needed to be done, his dad could always count on Steve-without hesitation.

Steve's mother describes him as a caring, generous, and thoughtful son, brother, and uncle. He was also a strong-minded man with definite viewpoints on just about everything. While he respected the opinions of others, he stood confidently in his own beliefs.

His sister remembers Steve as her hero. Since childhood, she looked up to her big brother and wanted to be just like him. In fact, her very first word was "block"- inspired by the toys they played with together. She loved playing video games with him and watching The Smurfs and Hulk Hogan on WWF. They shared countless laughs, as Steve was effortlessly funny. He would crack hilarious jokes without even trying- his sarcasm was unmatched. He was, and will always be, her hero and partner in crime. One memory that always brings a smile is the night they got caught eating ice cream straight from the carton after thinking their parents had gone to sleep.

Steve met Carrie while she was his teacher in a computer class at Gavilan College. On July 26, 2008, Steve married Carrie King in a beautiful ceremony along the ocean in Seascape, California. Though they later parted ways, they shared seven years of marriage, traveling together to many places, including Maui, Belize, and Lake Tahoe. They bonded over their shared love of animals and created many happy memories together. Carrie recalled that when they visited Maui, Steve was treated like a Hawaiian king- and he absolutely loved it.

Steve's Pets

His guide dog, Ginger brought him so much happiness, independence and confidence. Steve and Ginger often made pit stops at Baskin-Robbins-where they'd both enjoy a little ice cream. He loved playing fetch with her in the backyard, and Ginger saved Steve's life twice by preventing him from being hit by a car.

Before Ginger, Steve had his first dog as a child- Cookie, a golden Labrador. Cookie was gentle, well-behaved, and always by Steve's side. After school, Steve would often walk to Safeway, grab a poor boy sandwich, and share it with Cookie. Cookie and Ginger looked so much alike that it was sometimes hard to tell them apart in photos.

Ginger accompanied Steve to all his medical appointments at Kaiser, where the two of them became well known and loved by the staff. When Ginger grew old and ill, Steve lovingly cared for her for over a year and a half. Although his parents encouraged him to get a new guide dog, Steve insisted it was his turn to take care of Ginger. He cooked her crockpot meals with chuck roast and vegetables and even threw her birthday parties.

Steve also adored his five cats- Simba, Himalaya, Jack, Sam, and Angel. He took excellent care of them and dressed them up for Halloween contests; Himalaya even won first place one year. Simba was especially dear to him, as his very first cat. Steve made sure his three outdoor cats were safely brought into the garage every night to protect them. Angel originally belonged to his Aunt Mitsy and would greet the family outside whenever they got home- just like a dog. Steve also had a soft spot for Rico, Julene's dog. Every time Rico stayed with Steve, he seemed to come back a few pounds heavier- having been fed and treated like royalty.

Family Time

His mother fondly recalled the simple joys they shared-watching television shows and countless basketball and football games together. His parents would describe the scenes and explain the players' moves so Steve could follow the action. Sometimes, he would playfully complain that they gave him too many details! A loyal Warriors fan, Steve's favorite player was hands down, Draymond Green.

Another special tradition Steve enjoyed with his parents was their weekly trips to the movie theater, a pastime he later shared with his beloved niece, Sky. Together, they watched films like Super Mario Brothers and Dog Man, and he always let her pick whatever snacks she wanted. She cherished every moment with him.

Steve and Sky shared a unique and powerful bond. They affectionately called each other "twin" because of their many similarities: favorite color, favorite food, birthdays both on the 26th, and a mutual love of baking and sprinkled donuts. They spent countless hours playing Candyland, carving pumpkins, riding the mini train at the local pumpkin patch, and making Christmas cookies and lemon squares. Steve once took her to Disneyland, where he transformed her into a princess with an elaborate dress and tiara. A year later, he took her to Super Nintendo World, where Sky magically became Princess Peach- another unforgettable moment in their fairytale adventures together.

Steve and Sky shared a joyful and playful connection. They joked constantly and often answered each other's calls with a cheerful "You again!" Sky admired Steve deeply. To her, he was the strongest person in the world. Inspired by him, she began doing push-ups at the age of 6. determined to be strong like her uncle.

Steve went out of his way to make Sky feel special-throwing her epic birthday parties, inviting all her friends, and always going above and beyond. When her mom would say she could have just one donut at Krispy Kreme, Steve would tell her to get the whole dozen. He didn't believe in "just one-especially since, back in middle school, he would often eat an entire dozen himself on the bus ride home.

Steve loved visiting the family's second home in Henderson, Nevada- a relaxing getaway from the everyday routine. One of his close friends there, Terry, lived next door. Steve enjoyed conversations and lots of laughter with him and his wife. The family loved trying out all the great local restaurants, and what was once Steve and Julene's favorite place-Circus Circus-soon became Sky's favorite too. On their last trip together in December 2024, Sky won a stuffed monkey so big it was actually larger than Steve.

Steve also enjoyed adventures in the motorhome. The family took trips to Monterey and later camped at Casa de Fruta, joined by their two dogs, Ginger and Rico. These simple yet special experiences reflected the deep bond Steve shared with his family- especially with Sky.

Steve was a deeply giving and thoughtful person. He always found the perfect gifts for birthdays and Christmas-and he always went big. When Skyler was four, he didn't just buy her a dollhouse- he bought her the biggest and best one he could find. Steve then asked his dad to assemble it for her. In addition to believing he was the strongest person in the world, Skylar also used to think he was the richest person in the world.

One of Steve's friends once said, "Sky is the apple of Steve's eye," but it was just as true the other way around. Skylar's eyes would light up whenever she talked about her uncle. Once she was old enough, she wanted to help guide Steve wherever they went. If she wasn't the one walking beside him and holding his hand, she'd get upset- she took that job seriously.

Steve grew up in San Jose, where his parents had a pool in the backyard and regularly hosted friends and family for pool parties and barbecues. His parents always made sure every dinner was a feast. Later, when the family moved to Morgan Hill, they carried on the tradition of gathering around good food with loved ones. One of the last big celebrations was for their beloved dog Ginger's 14th birthday on September 22, 2024. Ginger wore a birthday sash and hat and enjoyed a filet mignon dinner- true to the family's style of going all out for those they loved.

We Miss You, Steve
Life will never be the same without Steve. He is and always will be- deeply loved and greatly missed by all of us. His family and friends gather now to truly honor his life, to celebrate a true champion of life and to remember the example he set for all of us.

At Steve's Celebration of Life, his family hopes everyone will continue to share their memories of him and the joy he brought into the world. Julie and Tony, Steve's parents, welcome the support and connection during this incredibly painful and devastating loss.

Steve sends a special thank you to his parents for giving him and his sister the best life they could have asked for. Steve was immensely grateful for the love, support, laughter, and opportunities his parents provided, and he carried that gratitude with him throughout his life. He loved his mom and dad SO much!

The family also extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to honor Steve's life. Your presence means more than words can express.

Steve is survived by his dad- Tony, mom- Julie, sister- Julene and his niece, Skylar. His close family includes: uncle-Roy, cousin- Adam, step-grandma- Karen, aunt- Linda, uncle- Eds, cousins Shannon and Rachael, aunt- Janna, aunt- Dee, cousin- Myla and her daughter, Leilani and uncle- Calvin.

Steve will be deeply missed- as a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a nephew, and a loyal friend. The relationships he nurtured were filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories. Whether it was the bond between father and son, mother and son, brother and sister, or uncle and niece- Steve gave his whole heart. He will always be a part of each person who loved him and will remain with them forever.

Flower Cottage of Morgan Hill
Family prefers plants, but flowers are still welcome.
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Steve's Final Resting Place
Mount Hope Memorial Park
250 Spring Avenue
Morgan Hill, Ca 95037