Stephen Blake Crocker

Stephen Crocker was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1944. As his father was a colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the family accompanied him to various postings in the States as well as in Japan and France after WWII. From 1953 on, France held a special place in his thoughts. It was in a two-room schoolhouse in a village northeast of Paris that he learned to speak French and write using a pen and inkwell. Unfortunately, this unique experience was cut short by the death of his father in an airplane crash in Morocco.

With his mother and sisters, Steve then settled in Denver, where he developed close friendships at South and Thomas Jefferson High Schools that continued throughout his life. Outdoor activities kept him busy – skiing with the Eskimo Club, horseback riding at a working ranch in the summer, and tennis. However, it was his love of reading and writing that led him to the University of Colorado–Boulder, where he majored in English literature and minored in Classics.

As an usher at the Central City Opera House in the summer of 1964, Steve became an opera buff after attending 28 performances of Madame Butterfly and 30 performances of Barefoot in the Park (a non-operatic play with Myrna Loy).

In 1979, he spent fourteen months cycling from London to Rome, staying in campsites along the way including three months each in the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes. He brought few possessions with him on his journey: a tent, a sleeping bag, one change of clothing, a transistor radio, and two large dictionaries (Latin and Greek), but no camera.

Perhaps it was his Classics studies that explain his keen interest in Mediterranean history, art, architecture, literature, culture, and religion. He became the perfect European tour guide for his family, recounting many stories of historical events and famous individuals, explaining the biblical scenes on church capitals, and interpreting the Latin and Greek texts on monuments.

Steve’s work experience centered around his exceptional writing skills. He taught English at private schools, wrote occasional book reviews for the Denver Post, was a member of Martin Marietta’s business proposal team, and worked as a technical writer for US West and Qwest. He was married for 42 years to his wife Nancy. They had one son, John, who now lives and works in the Boston area along with his wife, Diana, and their two young sons, Conrad and Kellen. He is also survived by his sister, Kippy, and her family. Steve eagerly followed all of their activities and achievements.

In retirement Steve stayed active. He enjoyed attending Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado concerts, listening to operas, buying countless boxwoods for his formal garden, reading history books and French novels, traveling overseas with Friendship Force, attending luncheons with high school buddies, and following the stock market. Steve’s family and friends will always remember his gentle demeanor, quiet sense of humor, and appreciation for beauty in all forms.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, https://bcocolorado.org.