A tribute from Kenny Kassel….
“I am devastated by the loss of Steve. He was truly one of my closest friends. The NPC was born in 1981, and he was already a friend of mine. We both had gyms at the same time—his in Rockland County and mine in Bergen County NJ–about 40 minutes apart, so we were not rivals.
He was about the kindest, most giving person I have ever met. You know our history through his competing, time at Pumping Iron and Sharon, with them living together at his place on York Avenue. We were then working together on “MuscleSport USA” from 1988 until 2002.
I was the one who taught him how to expedite, because I was doing that before him, but he took it up about 100 levels and turned it into a science. Over the past 15 years or so, I have been to hundreds of shows and Steve was there pretty much every time. I can’t imagine what it will be like backstage at shows without Steve. I am just so glad that we got to spend time at the Olympia like we did since he started doing the O.
We sat together on the flight out to Vegas last Tuesday, like we do every year, and had most of our meals together until Andrea arrived. I cherish all the time together because Steve always made you feel like you were so important.
I want to express my deepest condolences to Andrea, and his family. Let me finally say Rest in Peace to Steve Stone–the brother I never had. He was truly one of a kind.”
Kenny Kassel
[photo by Lori Braun, click to enlarge]