After Retirement

Known nationwide as “The Clothing Doctor,” Steve authored four books that taught consumers how to care for and preserve their wardrobes. As a spokesperson for Tide, Whirlpool, and OxiClean, he reached millions of consumers and became a sought-after keynote speaker for conventions throughout the clothing and dry-cleaning industry.

Moving to Boulder, Colorado

Fifty-two years young, healthy, happily retired, Steve was looking forward to the next chapter of life when he and his wife of 30 years moved from Bethesda, Maryland, to Boulder, Colorado. Just two years later, a bizarre skiing accident triggered a devastating stroke that forever changed the course of his life, forcing Steve to rebuild nearly every aspect of it.

Different Strokes: The Book

Rather than allowing his stroke to define him, Steve discovered his next calling, and yet another milestone: Giving the folks in his support group - and all survivors - a voice. The greatest gift he could give. Hence, the inspiration for Different Strokes. It took 2 years to write, with more typos than he could count!

Re-inventing Himself, Again

Just four years into his recovery, Steve began speaking to nurses, physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals, offering the unique perspective that only a survivor can provide. Through his presentations, he invites audiences inside the emotional, physical, and psychological realities of stroke recovery: the loss of identity, overwhelming confusion, and the difficult acceptance that tasks once taken for granted can suddenly become hard, and often impossible.

He speaks not as a victim, but as someone who continues to embrace the lifelong journey of recovery with resilience, humor, and hope. Still in his early stages, Steve had the stage presence to deliver his first stand-up performance, to a standing ovation.

Humor has become an essential part of Steve’s “Survival Kit.” Under the weight of the challenges, he would have caved without it.