Stephen Daniel Bray

I worked at The Evergreen State College when Stephen was teaching there. Always this quiet sense of humor and such a love of baseball! He was a wonderful spirit and he will be missed by many.
Wendy Sorrell

Estephepen también fuistes parte de mi vida me trajiste a Estados Unidos desde Nicaragua y me enseñaste besisbol y matemáticas y a comer un delicioso pavo los viernes estarás por siempre en mi mente presente mis más bellos recuerdos
De mi infancia que aún viven como si fuera ayer

Stephen and I met while watching our sons play tennis for the Olympia High team. Once we established that we also hit the ball around, a long and joyful camaraderie was established. For many years until Stephen's health ended his tennis days, we battled set after set. To say he was a competitor would be understating the point. We were once playing at Bally's when I hit a lob over him that he had to back peddle to retrieve. His foot caught and down he went, breaking his arm. A week later, cast on left arm, he says, "Let's go hit some balls. I AM right handed." So we went out a couple times and just hit. Finally he says, "Let's play for real. I just am not motivated to go all out to run down shots if it doesn't count." He was able to toss the ball with his casted arm to serve so we played. Of course, you know he won that first set! I said, "Christ! You have half a lung and a broken arm and still can beat me!" He just flashed that smile, never gloating. A true competitor. God. I miss those days.
A few years after his health stopped our regular matches, I was in town, and we set up one of our usual walks to catch up on family and health news. Stephen had received one of his many treatments, and this one seemed to help some. So...he says, "Let's hit the ball around." We went to the lone court at Barclift Park and hit. It was a bittersweet day. I had to try my best to hit right to him so that he didn't have to run much, but he was able to hit good shots. I think we both knew this would be the last time. I've attached the picture I took of him that day.
That was 2016, and since then, the first thing I did when arriving in Olympia was to email Stephen to set up a walk around the lake. Damn, I'll miss those walks.