I am Lori Braun, founder and owner of femalemuscle.com
I met Steve Stone when I returned to New York City after graduating college. I began training at Pumping Iron Gym, then located in Manhattan on 94th Street and First Avenue.
I had always loved bodybuilding, and thought it best to train with the best. Back then, Steve was a superstar trainer at Pumping Iron, a trainer to both the rich and famous and young neighborhood men and women seeking to become bodybuilders. At that time the stars were just starting to dig the idea that having muscles was a cool and healthy thing.
Pumping Iron was a world of its own. It was just like a Showtime soap opera starring bodybuilders both female and male. I practically lived in that gym and eventually became a personal trainer myself.
Steve Stone was my go to guy when I had questions about everything and anything.
He knew how to train, how to lose body fat, how to gain muscle mass and how to keep and get the best clients. He always looked amazing himself.
He always treated me with respect and kindness. He was always happy, even when he had the flu. Steve was more then helpful. He was motivating and encouraging. One day I asked Steve for his help:
“Steve, I do not know what to do with myself in this sport. Should I get into bodybuilding and compete with the big women or do fitness shows (did not have to do flips at that time and they did not have figure), I want to be more involved in the sport. What do you think I should do?”
Steve looked at me and did not say anything for a while. Finally he said:
“You are not going to look good as a massive bodybuilder. That is not for you. He paused again. “You are not going to be able to do fitness because it is too girly for you. When was the last time you walked in high heels?”
Then he stared at me kindly with his warm, patient eyes waiting for my response. I did not have one. I just put my head down and knew Steve was totally right. We laughed and finished eating some in between training food and went back to work.
Another time I was training a favorite client of mine who needed to train early that day. We headed to the bench and I grabbed the dumbbells and told my client to do incline presses. Then I looked up and there was Steve staring at me with a strange look on his face.. I quickly looked back at him. He motioned with his head not to make me look stupid. I looked around and then at my client doing his inclines. Oh no, I thought, as my face turned bright red. My client had one 25 pound dumbbell in one hand and a 35 pound dumbbell in the other. I quickly switched the dumbbells to the correct weight. You see that was the thing about Steve Stone. He was always there looking out for you.
Steve was always there to help and give honest advice. Never thinking of himself. The world is full of selfish people and people who look out for their needs first. Not this man. He was a very special person, especially in the world of bodybuilding, which is not an especially selfless place.
Years later the Internet was invented. Steve was correct. I was not meant to compete. I was better at promoting and helping the other female athletes in the bodybuilding sport. I always wondered how he knew.
We did not see each other much anymore other then at contests and expos. Still every time I saw Steve, it felt like we had just talked. He would give me a big giant hug and ask how I was, just like old times. We were usually backstage at a show and he was running around working and organizing everything. Perfect order. Steve was never too busy to talk, catch up and make sure I knew he was there if I needed anything. That was Steve Stone. A wonderful and kind man who influenced so many like me and just maybe we can all remember, through our time with Steve, to be a little kinder to our friends, family and even strangers.
Steve you rock from above my man. We will miss you. You are one of the few who could always bring a smile to my face and always will. We love you.
– Lori Braun
Comments are closed.