Stephen H. Macie

Stephen Harry Macie, 67, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2014. Stephen had many nicknames over the years and the following are just a few of them: Steve, Macie, Mace, Harry, Spacie Macie, Space, Coach Macie, AL III, Steverino, Mr. Erino, The Big Guy, The Gentle Giant, and Mr. Smooth to name a few. Stephen was born in January 1947, to Stanley and Dorothea Macie in Oak Park, Illinois. He came to California as a very young child. The family first settled in the Auburn area, then moved on after a number of years to Sacramento, before moving to San Mateo for his senior year of High School. After graduating from San Mateo High School in 1964, Stephen moved to San Luis Obispo to study architecture at Cal Poly. It did not take him long to realize that architectural design was not for him and that architectural engineering was where he excelled. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering in 1970, Stephen moved to the big island of Hawaii and opened up a drafting business named Everybody's Drafting Service with a couple of partners, Albert Walker and Sherwood Case, that he had met at Cal Poly. In 1972, he moved back to San Luis Obispo. The day after he returned he took a job with his friend, Don Robertson, as an electrician.  In a short time this job turned into Lightning Electric a partnership which included Stephen, Don, and Doug Dunn. After a number of years with Lightning Electric Stephen decided it was time to use his degree in architectural engineering.  He received his California Engineer-In-Training Certificate in 1973. While still earning a living as an electrician, he was able to fit in a few engineering jobs in the years following with the help of his mentor and Cal Poly engineering instructor, Hans Mager, Sr.  In 1977, Stephen received his California Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering Certificate and soon opened up his Macie Engineering Office. This is the same year he married Marian Simas making it legal after being together since 1969. In 1986, Stephen received his Hawaii Professional Engineer in the Structural Branch Certificate. Over the years Stephen was a member of numerous groups and organizations. He played softball on a couple of city league teams, first with the fast pitch team the Owls and later on the slow pitch team the Rockets. Stephen also played rugby in the late '70's early '80's with SLORFC and later coached youth rugby. He was a member of El Chorro Chapter of the Odd Fellows and also of the Minor Historians. He also was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus having served as the third Noble Grand Humbug of the De La Guerra Y Pacheco Chapter #1.5. At the time of Stephen's massive stroke in October 2012 he was serving as the chief financial officer for the El Chorro Chapter of the Odd Fellows, member of the SLORFC Board of Directors, and Proctor of the Grand Council of Venerable Clampatriarchs of E Clampus Vitus Inc. Stephen is survived by his wife, two brothers, a sister, nieces, and a nephew. Stephen also is survived by a large network of devoted friends that have been there every step of the way during his recovery from a massive stroke. Stephen also had the help of some of the best therapist that aided him in his recovery. He continued to improve each and everyday of his recovery because of his hard work and the help of friends, family, and therapists.  He had a strong will to live and a positive attitude. He fought the good fight but his body finally gave up. There will be a gathering to remember and celebrate the life of Stephen from 2 to 10 p.m., Sunday, June 22, 2014, at the El Chorro Odd Fellows Lodge located at 520 Dana Street in San Luis Obispo. We have all lost our best friend and one very funny guy. To quote one of his friends, Michael Morin, "His wry sense of humor could put the 'dry' in a dry martini! I never knew what he was going to say next when we talked." And another quote from Stephen's wife, Marian, "He made me cry sometimes but he made me laugh everyday." It would only be fitting to leave you all with a smile on you face as Stephen would have wanted. The following is the first line of his favorite jokes: "A duck walks into a bar..."