Stephen C. Jaffe DVM

Dear Ingrid and Andrew,
We Hunters, Linda and Suzanne in Sacramento area and Richard (Dick) from above, wanted to share with you what a special presence Steve was in our lives. For Dick it began in his youth in Brooklyn when he and Bill Prest and Steve became friends-a friendship that lasted for many years via correspondence and phone calls.
When Steve arrived in Sacramento and became the assistant director of the Sacramento Zoo located in Land Park -the neighborhood in which we lived - Dick and Steve spent great times catching up and each had also continued to stay in touch with Bill Prest who sent the most incredible Christmas letters incorporating into the many pages each years` remarkable adventures. Steve, Dick and I loved discussing the latest and looked forward to receiving the Prest narration for the next year.
It was a joy for both Suzanne and me to get to know Steve especially because we too loved animals although perhaps not quite the same ones with whom he was familiar. Dick and I volunteered to check in on and feed a couple of his special friends when he had to be away for a day or two with zoo business. Imagine our surprise when Dick and I went to his house the first time and found we were going to be feeding a most beautiful barn owl and a couple of reptiles and of course Adelaide the dingo!! Instructions provided in detail thank goodness.
Suzanne who was about four at the time and spent a lot of time at the zoo with my Dad as he took her most every weekend was quite reluctant to go into the reptile area. When Steve learned of that trepidation he invited her to visit the reptile house with him. She did so telling her friends that she got to pet some really big snakes and see snakeskins that had been shed-she still did not and does not like them so much but isn´t afraid because Steve taught her about them.
My parents so enjoyed having him join us for Sunday dinner - especially my dad who served in the Navy SeeBees (CBs) during WWIl. Interesting conversations about that experience ensued versus Steve´s experiences in Viet Nam.
Steve was a unique and wonderfully caring person. Fun and funny. A joy to be around. We know he will be missed by all with whom he came in contact-animals and people alike! We will cherish the wonderful memories we have of him as our friend and wish that you continue to enjoy your wonderful memories of him as your spouse and father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

I knew Steve through the local Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and my wife and I always enjoyed his company at Chapter events. He always had an interesting topic and enjoyed a lively conversation. We also had an opportunity to witness the respect and esteem the staff at Needham Animal Hospital held for Steve when we took our dog there for treatment. Steve was not our dogs doctor, but when the staff learned that I knew Steve they immediate told me what a wonderful Veterinarian he was.

Steve was a great fiend and one of the most intelligent and compassionate veterinarians I have ever know. It was my pleasure and honor to have worked with him at Needham Animal Hospital and in the North Carolina Academy of Small Animal Medicine. He truly loved and studied continuously all species of animals, was passionate about food, loved learning and people. He never met a stranger or a person that he could not find a common topic to relate to and talk with them at length. He will long be remembered by his many friends and so greatly missed. He was one of my heroes and I will miss him greatly.
Peggy Needham

So sorry to hear of Steve's passing.
My wife and I only knew steve while working out at the old spa health club on Shipyard blvd years ago. He was so nice and always thought he grew up western Canada as he loved talking about it

North Rice and Lisa Spaugh