Steven English Hopper

Steven Hopper Obituary

Steven English Hopper 9/20/1942 – 8/6/2007 Creative and fun loving Steve Hopper left us on August 6th, 2007 at his home in Mill Valley surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Dr. James and Marion Hopper in New Haven, Connecticut in l942 while his father was at Yale. The Hoppers moved to Sausalito in 1945 where Steve grew up in a family that had its origins in the Carmel bohemian writer and artist community since the early 1900s. He attended Tamalpais High School and College of Marin. At age 18, he spent a transformational year in Europe hitchhiking and hopping trains with a few coins in his pocket and a load of ingenuity. Steve returned to attend and work at the College of Marin where he helped create the audio-visual department. Through the years, he was a jack of all trades with expertise in photography and darkroom, art, organic gardening and landscaping, woodworking, wiring and construction. In the 1970s, he built his 27-1/2 foot wooden sail boat, the Osiris Moon, and spent many years sailing on the S.F. Bay he knew and loved. Steve was a dedicated member of the aqua exercise class at College of Marin for many years. In his black wet suit and straw hat, he anchored the middle of the pool. This required some physical strength as a class of 40 or 50 participants can generate a considerable current. Many people stopped on their daily rounds to chat with Steve because he was an amusing and original conversationalist. Of late, someone suggested that his hat be permanently anchored to his position in memoriam. Steve's charm, wit, sarcasm, ingenuity and smile will be sorely missed by many. He is survived by his wife Brett of 25 years and son Gavin of Mill Valley, his son Ian Hopper (Jessi) and grandson Kai of Novato, his son Kevin Hopper of San Anselmo, his son Michael Rudholm (Annika) and granddaughter Marta of Stockholm, Sweden, his mother Marion Hopper of Sausalito, his sister Margo Loomis (Steve) of Marin, his brother Sean Hopper (Anna) of Aspen. He was preceded in death by his father James Hopper Jr. and brother Jimmy Hopper (Carol) of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Contributions in his memory may be made to Opportunity for Independence, 20 H St., San Rafael, CA 94901 or to REC. INC., P.O. Box 538, Fairfax, CA 94978.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Marin Independent Journal on Aug. 19, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Steven Hopper

Sponsored by Ian Hopper.

12 Entries

August 13, 2021

I rode my moto to our favorite beach on the 6th. I brought along a Guinness I picked up at Jolly King along the way and poured out some for you too. I sat in our favorite spot and looked for our favorite stones. You were with me in everything I did. You are as much a part of me as you´ve always been. I love and miss you dad.

Jim Clark

June 9, 2017

I knew Steve and his sister Margo in Barcelona Spain. He was an intelligent guy who posessed a great spirit for life. As I recall he had a Swedish Girlfriend and they left Barcelona ro meet her family in Sweden on Steve's Motorcycle!

Ian Hopper

January 24, 2013

I'm thinking of you today dad. I miss you, but I still feel you in nearly everything I do.

Linda Lyons

September 17, 2007

Steve and I and other Sausalito kids took ballroom dancing lessons at the Women's Club when we were 11 or 12, guess that would be around 1953.
He was so much fun! I remember laughing a lot with him. In reading the entries to this guest book as well as the obituary I can see that he kept that joyful quality.
His dad was my dad's doctor and was so compassionate...my dad passed in 1956.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Linda Forde Lyons

Beth Suess

September 4, 2007

Erin said it, but I just wanted to chime in. To see Steve, Brett and Gavin come in at each 3rd Friday Dance was to realize that the party had indeed arrived. All of us at REC Inc feel the loss.

They were all so wonderful together. In this world where family is all too often undervalued it always made me hopeful and grateful to see such a loving, happy one.

We will miss Steve at the dances, but when we see Brett and Gavin there is no doubt that he will still be there.

Rosalie Undercoffer

August 30, 2007

You don't meet too many people like Steve Hopper in your lifetime. He belonged to that rare breed that could fill a room with his charisma and utter joy for living. That wonderful imagination that was always at work. He had so many varied interests and abilities, but for me, what stands out was his love of the language, his eloquence, his marvelous sense of story-telling. My marriage to Steve, and our friendship all these years, have left me with countless rich memories that,I know in time, will help fill this hole in my heart.

My love and sympathies go out to you Brett, and the entire Hopper family. We are, all of us, so blessed for having had him in our lives.

Erin Duggan

August 21, 2007

Steve, Brett and Gavin have been coming to our monthly dance for quite sometime and they were a HOOT! We have counted on their wild sense of humor and fun to lift REC Inc's spirits.

The entire family was always so easy going and generous, and Steve simply lit up the room with his kind and loving personality. We will truely miss him.

If there is anything we can do, please don't hesitate to ask.
With all our love
Erin Duggan and the rest of the RECinc Staff

carol williams

August 20, 2007

steve was such a charming,. creative and fascinating person. i will miss him . i have been so fortunate to have known in my life. good night sweet prince. love-- carol

Ian Hopper

August 20, 2007

Oh dad... sometimes I still can't believe that you're gone. It feels like you're still here, because in everything I do, I feel your influence; you're always with me. I love you dad, and I will never forget you.

Ki (Pamela) Longfellow

August 19, 2007

I was seventeen, maybe even sixteen, when I first met Steve Hopper. Gorgeous, funny, musically and visually talented, tall and sweet and slightly odd, we were whatever we were back then. Lovers, sweethearts, friends, adventurers. As often as I could, which was often, I saved my pennies to catch a bus from Larkspur, where I lived, to Sausalito, where he lived, just to see him. Back then there was a drugstore, a real drugstore on the corner next to the downtown Sausalito park, and I’d wait until he’d finished his shift…and then, well then, we’d go up to his house on the hill above Sausalito's main drag. Marion, if you’re reading this, I loved your son then and I love him now. Funny how life goes. I hadn’t seen him for years, yet I’d only just made it back to Marin a few months ago, and only a few weeks ago, when I was exploring my lovely old haunts, I found myself on Cascade Drive in Mill Valley. Suddenly I saw the tree in which Steve had hung my motorcycle as a “sculpture,” the bike called Ruby I gave him before I went to Europe for what seems a million years. I pulled over fast and thought about hiking up and surprising him. But for some reason I called instead. From twenty yards away, I talked with him for the very last time. So glad I didn’t surprise him. So glad I called. I was allowed to say goodbye. I was allowed to tell him I’d always loved him. It makes all this a little easier to bear.

Penny Gerbode

August 19, 2007

A wonderful, humerous, loving man and dedicated to his family. He will be greatly missed. Our sons, Ian and Kevin Hopper are a wonderful example of their Father.

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