Steven Bitman

Steven Alan Bitman, 64, died on August 5, 2025. Steve is survived by his wife of 24 years Mary Dul-Bitman. He is survived by his sister Barbara Hochman in Miami, Florida, his sister Joni and her husband Robert Highsmith in Las Cruces, New Mexico as well as his stepbrothers Dr. Gary Nack and his wife Jodi and Dr. Steven Nack and his wife Vicki and their children and grandchildren and stepmother Fran Bitman. His mother Ruth "Mimi" and father Harold preceded him in death. Steve was also the beloved nephew of the late Esther Adler (sister of his mother). He is also survived by members of Mary's family, his mother in law Patricia, sister in law Tina Bezerra and her husband Carlos, brother in law Emil Dul and his family, and brother in law Eric Dul. Steve was the uncle of Andre' and Sean Bezerra, the Dul family children, Dr. Jennifer "Jennie" Hochman Cohn (husband Dr. Adam Cohn), Michael Hochman, Dylan Highsmith (wife Jessica) and Leslie Gabaldon (husband Joey). He is the great uncle of Evan and Jordan Cohn, Willow and Ian Gabaldon. Steve is also survived by his close friend and Barbara's former husband, Alan Hochman. Steve's beloved father in law Emil F. Dul passed on to Eternal Life in Heaven in 2021.
My husband Steve exemplified the love of God by living his life as an incredibly loving human being who touched the lives of many people in his simple, humble ways. Steve was all about LOVE!! My Sweetheart Steve and I met in 1997 when my sister Tina helped me to launch my career with Parke-Davis as a very young pharmaceutical sales rep. Steve was my trainer and counterpart and he put me at ease when I was a little nervous as a rookie communicating with doctors as we promoted Lipitor to help heal patients' hearts. Steve and I became close friends and that friendship grew into a deep relationship and ultimately a loving marriage in which we took our vows very seriously to be there for each other no matter what. Steve felt his role in this life is a humble one and he often paraphrased what St. Mother Teresa expressed which is "I cannot do great big things in this world but I can do small things with great love." Steve loved the Blessed Mother Mary of God as his spiritual Mom because he lost his own biological mother to cancer when he was a very young boy. He felt that the Blessed Mother watched over & loved him dearly with motherly love since his Earthly mother wasn't here to nurture him.
Steve had a gifted mind in so many ways, and he used his gift of language to write books of spiritual thoughts, prayers & poetry to God, the Blessed Mother, the Angels, Saints and even everyday heroes who we all encounter from time to time. We enjoyed writing together ~ everything from the sublime to the ridiculous lol. Steve had quite a sense of humor and loved making me and others laugh to the point in which I would say "That joke is really journal worthy" and I'd document it so that we can relive the moment at a later time and laugh all over again. Steve was also quite the romantic who wrote beautiful poems to me and I followed his lead by writing a whole book of poetry to him. We can be caught at any random time capturing our thoughts and feelings in our writings. He used his linguistic abilities both written and spoken to inspire, teach and entertain many people ~ all for good causes. His intellectually stimulating conversations or sheer silliness at times was second to none. God abundantly blessed him in so many ways and I feel so honored to have crossed paths with such an incredible man!! We believed the Holy Spirit brought us together!!
Steve often graciously thanked me for helping make him a better person and giving him a great life. In response, I would say "Honey, you make me a better person and have given me a great life!" It was far from perfect with our little disagreements here and there but we really had a strong thing for each other and others took note of it and commented sincerely and with positivity which we appreciated. I have no doubt that Steve is partying up a storm there in Heaven with God, the Blessed Mother, the Angels, Saints and loved ones who he knew on Earth as well as many new souls. Steve inspired me to help others in simple ways because what you do for others you are doing for God. Steve was the kind of man who loved to put a smile on peoples' faces and make them laugh or console them or guide them with his words of wisdom. Steve prayed often and in the midst of terrible suffering he faced in life, he kept persevering, never giving up but instead offering up his sufferings to Christ on the Cross so that somehow in some way, God could work it all out for a greater good. God is PERFECT and His Ways are greater than our ways. Steve stayed true to the faith which he embraced. He was a man who loved using his heart & mind to help others. He loved to watch with me religious programs that would stir the heart and mind, nothing dry and boring, but rather very thought provoking, inspiring & heartwarming. We especially loved listening to inspiring homilies. We also loved viewing funny & cute dog & baby animal videos that would make us chuckle. Steve and I loved listening to music together and we even would make up songs for each other and write 'em down so we can share them with others. Steve liked to share his insights with others in a way that would help make a positive difference in their lives. Steve was a very loving and compassionate man and also a man with a very fun-loving personality who made people feel especially heard and appreciated with the undivided attention he gave them. Although he had some minor sins like everyone since none of us is perfect, he always strove to improve and would ask the Lord to help make him a better man.
The reason why Steve and I were so grateful for each other and why we had kept strong in our marriage vows throughout all sorts of challenges is because we always remembered to have God at the CENTER of our marriage. With GOD for us, who can be against us?! In simple tasks or more major projects, Steve would strive to give his very best and he held very high standards. He had a strong moral code. And he had a strong aesthetic sense too. As my Mom would sometimes say, "Everything with Steve is done like artwork." He took the time to do small things with GREAT LOVE! He appreciated the gifts God gave him and would often pray for me & others as well as those who don't have anyone to pray for them. Steve grew up in a fairly secular, culturally Jewish household. Through an inspiration from the Lord that he felt he needed to listen to, he converted to Catholicism a few years after we married. So he had the best of both worlds being both Jewish & Christian. He dedicated his life to being the best husband I could have ever asked for. Steve was truly a GEM!!! Such a gentlemen and a scholar as they say. Someone once referred to him as a poet with a bit of a wild streak lol. Steve's character at the core was that of a Saint. He would deny that but being married to me at times would require one to achieve Sainthood lol. Steve enjoyed simply talking with people and understanding them and making a small difference in their lives. He had a gift for gab- whether it was high level engineering discussions with my Dad, conversations with philosophically and religiously gifted minds or simply talking about the intricate differences among different brands and flavors of ice cream, Steve was ready for any topic any time with people from all walks of life. Steve loved as Christ did ~ he loved God above all and loved his neighbor as himself! The man truly lived out The Golden Rule! He was also involved with charity work and kept very humble about it. Someone once described him very succinctly- the descriptor they used was Humility. Steve also loved working with wood creating sculptures for others. His dancing skills also were out of this world and he truly swept me off my feet!
I'm grateful you all had the opportunity to know Steve whether indirectly through me or more directly & personally with some of you who knew him for years and I feel sad his time here on Earth has ended. He always assured me that I am never alone and encouraged me to reach out to others because he knew I enjoy helping people & making a positive difference for them just like he did. Steve knew my worst fear in life was losing him because he knew how much I loved him and would miss him but he would reassure me that we would all be together again in Heaven with God, the Angels, the Saints and Family and Friends we knew on Earth as well as new ones we'll meet when we enter God's Heavenly Kingdom. He told me that if anything were to ever happen to him, that I should not isolate myself but rather to reach out to some very good people and trust that God would put the right people in my path if I simply use my heart, mind and soul to see the heart, mind and soul of others. I especially miss all of the long conversations we used to have ~ discussing everything from the sublime to the ridiculously funny ~ but I am grateful to God that He gave Steve and me 28 years together. I'm also grateful for the beautiful shrine of sculptures of Holy People he created for our home ~ that means so much to those who have seen it.
On August 11th of 2025, St. Clare's Feast Day, we would have celebrated 24 years of marriage. I THANK YOU Lord for the GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL MAN Steve was not only when he was a very handsome man in his prime and then as he aged like fine wine but most especially and importantly with the love & beauty that was within him. He had an amazing personality and I used to tell him he's extremely cute and I'd ask, "How did they make you so darn cute??!! He'd smile and chuckle and shrug his shoulders as if to say "I don't know?" and then I would exclaim, "I think I may know how they did it!! I'd go on to say God is the Ultimate in Cuteness since He created the concept of Cute so perhaps one day God decided to send some "extra cute" down to earth in the form of Steven Alan Augustine Bitman. That observation of mine made him chuckle lol. Regarding his name, Augustine was the Confirmation name Steve chose when he converted to the faith a few years after we married. He and I devoured the work of St Augustine, one of the greatest thinkers who proclaimed " Lord, You Have Made Us For Yourself And Our Hearts Are Restless Until They Rest in YOU." Steve's heart is no longer restless!
Steve was truly my hero and as Fr. Cleary cheerfully says "Husbands are the 'heroes' of wives". I cannot wait to see Steve again in Heaven when God decides to call me home but in the meantime, I trust God has some very good plans for me.
I'd like to inspire you all with a poem of gratitude to God that Steve wrote many years ago. It is a poem that flowed right out of his mind onto paper WITHOUT ANY EDITS AT ALL. Steve and I suspected the Holy Spirit was at work creating what I consider Steve's greatest poem ever!
I just want to first say to GOD the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, all of the many Angels & Saints we prayed to for intercession, my amazing Dad Emil, who is in Heaven and my beautiful, loving husband Steve in Heaven: THANK YOU FOR THE DIFFERENCE YOU'VE MADE IN MY LIFE. Steve ~ You are the GREATEST LOVE I have ever known. As my adorable sister Tina says: CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF LIFE GOD GAVE YOU AND STEVE !!! The same sentiment applies to you reading this- so embrace it & celebrate the gift of LIFE God gave You & Yours! THANK YOU sincerely, Ma, for the first can of Diet Coke you bought Steve 27 or so years ago; that simple gesture meant alot to him. THANK YOU to my sister Tina & my brother in law Carlos for the many great conversations with Steve & me and also my gratitude to my precious nephews, Andre' my Godson, and Sean, who always enjoyed chatting with Uncle Steve. THANK YOU also to my Brother Emil, who is always looking out for me and others in the fine & important work that you do, and to your lovely wife Lora and your very precious children Ava & Aidan. Also a very special THANK YOU to my brother Eric, you young man who works in a field helping special needs children with your amazing, loving heart and brilliant mind- thank you for all you have done to help me. Steve & I truly enjoyed all the laughs & fun adventures with you! You being the youngest of the 4 of us siblings will always be "baby brother" to me lol. And to all of Steve's immediate family members & our loving extended family & friends, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR STEVE AND ME!
Without further ado, I hope Steve's poem to God touches your soul in some small way. It's called My Gratitude Lord. Thank You for listening. I LOVE YOU ALL IN GOD!!!
MY GRATITUDE LORD
EVER PRESENT FLOWING FROM WITHIN
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN HONOR OR IN SIN
SOMETIMES TAKEN FOR GRANTED, SOMETIMES IN DOUBT
YET YOU PERSEVERE IN BEAUTY NEVER RUNNING OUT
TIMELESS AND ETERNAL WITH NO BOUNDARIES YOU EXIST
THROUGHOUT ALL THAT UNFOLDS FAITH IN YOU PERSISTS
YOUR SPIRIT ILLUMINATES THE SOUL OF HUMANITY
AN INFINITE GIFT WITH VALUE BEYOND WHAT WE CAN SEE
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STEVE, WE ALL LOVE YOU !!!
In lieu of flowers friends who wish may contribute to the Missionaries of Charity https://missionariesofcharity.org or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/