Family and friends
We're sorry not to be able to gather at this time to celebrate Steve's vibrant life together. We are grateful to everyone for adding to his happiness over the years, and we hope that you will share a story or a picture with us here.
Join Memories to request access to contribute your cherished photos, videos, and stories to Steve's memorial with others who loved them.
Join MemoriesKimberly Boyd My christening :)
Kimberly Boyd This one is just funny!
Kimberly Boyd My mom did a beautiful painting of this picture that my parents always had hanging in the house.
Kimberly Boyd Nice shorts, dad!
Kimberly Boyd Dad with his dear friends, Dan and Eddie.
Kimberly Boyd Dad loved history, and our trip to Egypt was one of his favorites!
Cristin Rosenbaum Steve’s not actually in this picture, but it’s representative of many fun summers in NC and many adventures. In this one, Steve had arranged for us to go tandem hang gliding! Circa 1993 Also thinking of quieter moments...circa 1991...the year of the big Halloween Storm in NC. We were all down for Thanksgiving and each day Steve, Dad (Jim), and I would drive up from Poppop’s to the beach house (Tides End??) to do cleanup/repairs. I spent many an hour cutting mangled sand fence that week. After a long day’s work, we stopped at Food Lion to get a treat. Hagendaz Ice Cream bars (3-pack), but since my 12-ish year old pallette didn’t appreciate the dark chocolate, he got me my own box of ice cream bonbons instead. That went on for 3-4 days. :)
Kimberly Boyd One of our special trips while living in Saudi Arabia...I'm pretty sure this is from Petra. I feel so lucky to have traveled the world with my family.
Kimberly Boyd A fun memory from our days in Saudi Arabia.
Kimberly Boyd Our African safari with our guide, Samson. Dad always made authentic connections wherever he went.
Kimberly Boyd Memories from my debutante in 1999.
Steve Riddle Life really was all about the beach - and fishing, and sailing, and family, and more. Thanks for all the good times and memories you gave us.
Kimberly Boyd A cute picture from when our parents were dropping Emily and me off at Boston College!
Kimberly Boyd My parents embraced BC as their own!
Emily Ussery Parents Weekend at Boston College
Kimberly Boyd My dad loved to be on the water... off the Outer Banks and in the Red Sea!
Steven Boyd Steve loved fishing and family and little made him happier than combining the two. On this day Kim caught (and released) a 400 pound Blue Marlin and I caught my first Tuna. Ever the proud parent, Steve made sure that we both got flags and citations from the State of North Carolina for those fish.
This poem was read to Steve and Debbie at the America's JMJ Holiday Party Dec 9 2006 as part of his retirement from JMJ... Steve's Song A decade ago the new journey began, For a fellow – a renaissance man. Full of passion and unbending intent, For extraordinary accomplishment. For you see he came from Saudi land Being...
Kimberly Boyd Fishing with my Steve, Don (Steve's dad), and my dad in 2008. I know my dad and Don are together in heaven.
Nancy Sawin - Uhlman I will always treasure in my heart the times spent on Columbia Ave. when Steve was dating my cousin Debbie and he would stop by my house and hangout with my Dad, (Uncle Frank) They would be tossing the baseball, or sitting in our kitchen talking about baseball. Steve introduced my family to Monty Pythons Flying Circus, which my Mom, ( Aunt Ruth) found very humorous. The above photo was taken at a hotel near LAX. We were able to have lunch and visit. A very special time for all of us. Steve loved hearing Jennifer’s stories about theater and learning about Diana and her life as a Civil War Re-enactor I will always treasure Steve’s love for his family and for life.
Cathy Forgnone Beach buddies gone too soon. (Steve and Bill Carty)
Kimberly Boyd My wedding was one of my dad's happiest days. Having so many of our family and friends together brought us all so much joy!
Steve Riddle At Stephanie's wedding. He was a handsome guy, and with Deb made a beautiful couple. The suit was pretty good as well (inside joke).
Steven Boyd Nobody spoiled a dog like Steve did! Here we have Maggie and Lucy showing some love after a long day of play.
Kimberly Boyd My dad loved becoming a papa! The kids energized him and he adored them.
Sharon & Dennis O'Neill Steve and Debbie became our dear friends over the many years that we rented their beautiful home, Swandipity. And they truly taught us everything we needed to know to take on building a home of our own in Swan Beach. When we think of our friend Steve we will always remember his energy, his enthusiasm which was infectious in all the best ways, his generosity, and the scope of his knowledge. Steve gets all the credit for us knowing how to build up dunes, how to understand the winds and the sometimes angry ocean, all that comes with living on the Outer Banks. Steve has left many legacies, among them a geological legacy; the dune that protects so many homes. As both a 'Dune Rancher' and a good friend Steve was hard to beat. We so miss him. Sharon & Dennis O'Neill
Kimberly Boyd My parents in their happy place!
Kimberly Boyd A beautiful picture of my guys.
Kimberly Boyd My parents have always been such a big part of our lives, and I'm so glad that so many of our friends had the opportunity to know him.
Jessica Sinders Uncle Steve doing his best Captain Morgan impression on an evening walk on the beach. He wasn't in a great mood that day, but even so he wanted to make sure we were all happy and gave us a laugh, which is so Uncle Steve.
Kimberly Boyd Even before they moved to Boston, dad loved to have special moments with his grandkids. This is from a Bruins game back when Emily was 4.
Kimberly Boyd Mom and Dad at Emily's last day of preschool.
Cristin Rosenbaum One of the last times we were all together. This was taken at the PA Renaissance Faire the day after Mike and Jess’ wedding. We love you and will miss you Steve. - Cristin
Jessica Sawin A great photo of Steve, Mike, and Jim at our wedding in 2017.
Jessica Sawin And of course a funny photo! Steve always made us laugh.
Kimberly Boyd Having my parents nearby, we were able to get together even for the most casual of get togethers. It was so special to have the last 2 years together in Boston.
Kimberly Boyd Dad loved his family and every opportunity to be together!
Kimberly Boyd Since moving to Boston, dad had embraced taking the train into the city to share his love of sports with Matthew and Emily.
Kimberly Boyd Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday in our family. We have wonderful memories of spending Thanksgiving with the Harmons, the Neusels, and the Ruddys over the years. This year we had a wonderful Boyd, Rothrock, and Goodman holiday!
Steve, Debbie, Kim, and their little poodle were our friends and neighbors on Oak Trace Street in Beaumont. I remember when they moved in, and very soon it was as if they had been there forever...that is just how Steve Rothrock was! We will never forget the fun times we had living on Oak Trace and getting to know the Rothrocks.. easy to do ! A to...
Debra Rothrock Thank you for all of your prayers, moments of support, kind words of encouragement and most of all for your memories of Steve. Two days before Steve passed away, it was our grandson Matty’s fifth birthday. Because we are living in times of Covid-19, Matty had a no-contact car parade lead by fire trucks and police cars. Steve was in his element maintaining order and leading the car follow up. When I recall memories of Steve, I will remember this day, it was a day of family, friends, happiness and joy …he was having such a good time…he didn’t want to leave. Going back to when Kim was five, her biggest joy was swimming and her biggest supporter was her dad. He showed up at all the meets and was the loudest voice cheering her on... coining the phrase "turn and burn"…Kim could count on him right through her high school years of swimming. Steve was a man of God and Family First, he had a can-do attitude and his confidence was contagious. He shared his love of nature with his young daughter forging the thickets of Southeast Texas with their butterfly nets in hand. Recently, Steve grew butterflies with his grand children and he shared his butterfly collection with anyone who would show an interest so if you were one of his followers, smile when you see a butterfly and think of Steve. Deep-sea fishing was a passion Steve developed in Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea and continued on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Kim and I shared his thrill for adventure and we hope that when you see a marlin thrashing the great Atlantic, you think of Steve. We visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina every year from 1979 onward and eventually Steve and I spent twelve years of semi-retirement there. Steve loved the wildness of the northern beaches, from the extreme weather displays and lightning shows to the wild horses that roamed in our backyard and along the shoreline. If you ever have the good fortune of visiting this slice of paradise, think of Steve…surely he will be there in the breezes along the dunes. Two years ago Steve and I moved to the Boston Metro West area and we have often been asked why did we move from the Outer Banks of North Carolina northward? Isn’t that the wrong direction? Not for us because we moved for FAMILY…that is what Steve was all about…FAMILY. He was so proud of Kim and Steve and what great parents they are to Emily and Matty…he was proud to be their Papa.
Kimberly Boyd My dad was in his element on Sunday, organizing and being in the birthday parade for Matthew's 5th birthday! The parade was led by 3 fire trucks, 4 police cars, and then 10 cars of family and friends who had decorated their cars to make Matthew's day special. We're so grateful to have this happy and very recent memory.
We will always remember the good times we had with Mr. Rothrock and the hospitality he showed us on our many trips to Swandipity in the Outer Banks to visit with the Boyd and Rothrock families. Steve was a wonderful host and always made us feel like a part of the family. Gathering around the table on that top floor during sunset and enjoying a wond...
I'll always remember the story of when Steve told your father he wanted to marry you, Kim. Boydo as usual had everything planned far ahead of time and was waiting for a moment when the two of them were alone. It proved much harder than he thought and when it finally came your dad was so excited and happy and immediately got animated and loud and ne...
Cathy Forgnone Beach buddies!!
Marie Minjarez He was like a second father to me growing up. He was so kind and made my childhood with Kimberly some of the most memorable ones I have. I have a passion and appreciation for the ocean because of him. I will always cherish those memories. The world Has lost a good man. Thank you Kimberly for sharing him with me in Jeddah, my thoughts are with you and your mom. Love you all
Cathy Forgnone Steve and Mike solving all the world's problems :)
Stephen Michael Rothrock, of Westfield Drive in Holliston, died of a heart attack on the evening of April 28th. He was 68. Steve was a devoted husband, father, papa, brother, uncle, and friend who brought a can-do attitude to life and made wonderful friends everywhere that he went. Steve and Debbie moved to Holliston, MA in 2018, and they have be...
Cathy Forgnone We shared so many good times together at the beach.
I have such wonderful memories of Steve from the time we shared in London working for Mobil. Our bicycle trip to Provence is one of them. Cycling for Softies was promised to be super easy. As it turned out it was a bit more challenging when we discovered we had to carry everything for the whole week in a a little bag on our bicycles with no van fol...
Eric & Janis Korn Though we've only known Steve for about 2 years, both he and Debbie certainly have become very important people in our lives. Steve quickly became involved in our community, helping out neighbors and socializing. We remember fondly his never ending story telling. Last summer, we took him and Debbie out sailing. It was a splendid day on the water. So, we wish his spirit fair winds and following seas on his journey now.
While we only crossed paths several times, I was always was struck by Mr. Rothrock’s warmth and kindness and his love for his grandchildren. He always had a smile on his face and was truly loved by his family. Our hearts go out to the Rothrock and Boyd families. Love, the Quincy’s.
Stephen and I were shocked to hear of your loss. Steve was such a vibrant man, full of enthusiasm and so knowledgeable about so many things- a pleasure to be near. We consider Kim to be practically family. Our families gathered at Thanksgiving in London when you, Kim, Brian and Colleen were studying on junior year abroad. London was decorated for ...
Edward Rumell We are so sorry for your loss. We had lots of nice times with your family in NC. Here is a great day of fishing with my dad and Steve and his friends. Our thoughts and preyers are with you and your family. Ed Rumell
Laura Hotz Dear Debbie, Kim and family, Sending you our sincerest condolences on the very sad and tragic passing of Steve, a dear friend to us for many years. We will always treasure our time together, both in Saudi Arabia and North Carolina, where amongst the great things we did was fishing. We had a wonderful time and Steve led the way with his tremendous enthusiasm and skill. We always had wonderful times together as families on the boats, snorkeling and swimming etc. Steve was not only a great friend, but an excellent colleague at work, who I had the utmost regard for and trust in. We will miss him dearly, but we have peace knowing he's in our hearts forever. With love and fond wishes, Harry, Lili, Rob and Laura Hotz
Both my other half, another Deb (Deb Welch) and I are praying for Debra, Kim, Emily & Matthew as you go through the next several days & weeks supporting each other & wondering how things will get done without Steve. He will be missed by both of us as well as many other people he touched. I am his older brother and I was totally shocked when Debra c...
We are so sorry and sad to hear about Steve. My daughter Bella, my fiancee Mark and myself have only known Steve and Deb for about a year but being neighbors we saw him almost daily. Mark and I always looked forward to Steve's conversations. He had a lot to say. He had such a big heart and will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Deb a...
Mr. Rothrock was an absolute prince of a man. A terrific storyteller, but also an earnest listener. He seemed genuinely interested in what people had to say, even when (especially when?) those people were kids. It also seemed as if he could not believe how lucky he was to have married Debbie and to have had Kim. Utterly happy and content. What...
Terry Brown Steve became a good if infrequent friend the rest of his years. He came to my wedding (April, 1982). There was lots of impromptu singing. Steve was somewhere between Freddie Mercury and Lionel Richie. Alas I, on the right, is the last one in this photo. There's a Vegas bet I would have lost. Miss him. Miss them all. Do remember all that have passed in your lives.
I feel privileged to have known Steve as both as a friend and as a partner. We worked together on several large engagements with JMJ. He always made work fun and most of you know he always had some great stories to add to any conversation. His clients loved him and he made a big difference for JMJ’s clients, JMJ and the thousands of people workin...
Tracey Trock The Rothrock Clan
Laura Hotz Beautiful times together fishing on the boat and swimming in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Dear Debbie, We are so very sorry and shocked about Steve. I loved seeing you and Steve out for your neighborhood walks, especially when you had your beautiful Toy Poodle with you. You and Steve are the reason why I am getting a Toy Poodle next. I always saw Steve letting her out front of your house and admired the way he had her trained so wel...
Keat Bryan Our son, Travis (now 27), in good hands. Keat & Sue Bryan
First, sincere condolences to Debbie and the family. If you were Steve's friend, you had a friend for life. And a better friend you couldn't have. We had a couple of monikers for Steve that I'll never forget. At church, he was "Father" Steve . . . mass always seemed better when he was the deacon assisting on the alter. Our kids called him "Vo...
Laura Hotz Boys day out on the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Keat Bryan Such a wealth of wonderful memories, from growing up together in the Ambler area, road trips to rock concerts, an opening night viewing of the original Star Wars movie in Times Square in 1977 (Twice - Fans for life!), and Outer Banks rendezvous over the years at Tide’s End and Swandipity. Just the tip of the iceberg of tales and times gone by. All well spent and fondly remembered. Keat Bryan
Tracey Trock My brother was quite a character who was so passionate about life and about people; he loved his family deeply. Steve is wicked smart and very knowledgeable about so many things. We would often talk about the things that mattered most to both of us and I will always hold my relationship with him close to my heart/soul. I will miss hearing his voice and his spirit for life. He introduced me to OBX and l will always remember our times together there, and our OBX excursions with Steve & Deb. Steve had many funny phrases during our times together at the beach, like “it’s okay we’re locals” and my favorite was him driving crazy and passing the ja-blonies (i.e. slow drivers) on the one way rode to Corolla. We both shared a deep love of family, of dogs and the beach. My thoughts and prayers are with Deb and Kim as I know how much you both love him and how much it hurts that he is no longer of this earth. I love you both so very much and thank you for creating this beautiful page for Steve, it has been wonderful to see how many people he touched throughout the years and all of the great photos!
Terry Brown This is East 63rd Street in New York City. I was working at the red awning in the foreground (Society of Illustrators). Steve was the late shift doorman at the awning past the "PARK" sign. On a very rainy night I ducked into that building's lobby and met this young grad student who knew that doorman paid well, gave him time to study and was the fit at the time. I was impressed by his basketball stories and his great laugh.
Keat Bryan Bigger Than Life
Edward Neusel Beautiful memories abound for the Neusel’s with the Rothrock’s. Slow pitch softball with Steve, college trips to the east coast, multiple hurricane evacuations from Beaumont, Project Graduation for Kim and Emily, setting up dorm rooms, Parents Weekend at Boston College, Red Sox Game at Fenway, butterfly collections, football games......the memories are many and sweet. Perhaps the best is the hospitality and love Debbie and Steve showed us when we evacuated from Hurricane Rita to their beautiful beach home in North Carolina. We will cherish these memories of our wonderful friend Steve and thank God he was part of our life!
Dear Rothrock Family We are so saddened by Steve's passing. We have such wonderful memories of him when he stayed with us in Austin. His smile and sense of humor filled out home. We had some fun trips to Central Market for items he took home to you too. Sending you love, prayers and peace
Mark Guest First my deepest sympathy for the family I met Steve when I joined JMJ and was able to work with him on many occasions. One of the most memorable was a trip to South Korea and Japan. The picture was taken outside a vocational school in Okpo South Korea circa 2003. As I think most of you know any trip with Steve anywhere can generate some fantastic stories. Here is one of my favorites. On a day off in Pusan before leaving for Japan Steve suggested we go to the international market. So off we go. To get right to the heart of the matter Steve bought an 8X11 bamboo rug. I inquired with him how in the H_____ he planned to get that home to Beaumont and here is how it goes. We put the rug on top of the taxi and Steve and held it down by reaching out of the side windows. That got us back to the hotel. The next morning Steve got the hotel to lone us the shuttle bus and we got the rug to the airport. We then carried the rug through the terminal to checked baggage. Oh let me add Steve charmed a Chevron employee who was rotating home to do the checked bag thing and to get the rug to Beaumont (I lost track of the rug in that terminal). there are more stories but I will stop with that. I am honored to have known and worked with Steve and I will always miss him dearly
I first met Steve when he was with Mobil Oil in Paulsboro, NJ. He and Dave Rishel were designing (and then building and starting up) the new hydrogen plant. I was his water treatment consultant and he was my CUSTOMER. The customer arrangement didn't last long. We became very good friends (like brothers). We soon met Debbie and their young daughter...
There are so many things to say about Mr. Rothrock, whom I had the great privilege to know for more than 20 years. When I first met Steve, he was working in Saudi I immediately knew he was made for JMJ. He had everything. Steve was incredibly smart and strong and wise and all of that was wrapped with honor and goodness, and kindness. When he w...
Kimberly Boyd We felt everyone's love and prayers with us today when we celebrated dad's life at St. Mary's Cemetery with Father Mark. We were especially grateful to be with my mom's brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Mary, and my mother-in-law, Merriann. It was a beautiful spring day. My mom, Steve, and Mary all said a few words. Since we would have loved to have you all with us, I thought I would share what I said to my dad today. "When I was little, dad often told me that his wish for me was for my life to be extraordinary. He was so dedicated to my mom and me and looked for ways for us to have great opportunity and enjoy the journey along the way. Although I used to think he was talking about his wish for the life experiences I could have, I now realize he was also talking about how I live my life. In the past few days I’ve been thinking about all of the life lessons I’ve witnessed in my dad and will always keep with me: Actively listen to people and hear their story. Take time to appreciate others and their work (especially when their work is unlikely being noticed by many others). Look for the little miracles in everyday life. Don’t be afraid to tell people how important they are to you and how much you love them. And, don’t waste time being embarrassed about what others will think about you. Dad practiced all of these things every day. What an extraordinary way to live. Thank you for being an amazing example to me about how to live a full and happy life. I am so grateful for all of our time together. I’m especially grateful for the past two years here in Boston. I love you.
Steve and I have been friends since 1989 when he and Debbie moved to Beaumont. We had many great times and I will mention just a couple. We explored Pleasure Island near Port Arthur on dirt bikes aggravating the locals and the police. We also had a great time when he and Debbie visited Singapore in 1993 and we spent a few days on the beach at Phuke...
Growing up, I was lucky to have what I considered to be three dads - my actual dad, Dr. Harmon, and Mr. Rothrock. All three were very different, but they shared a love for their daughters that bonded our families together for the past 30+ years. I have so many wonderful memories of Steve, beginning when Kim and I met in first grade to seeing him an...
Emily Ussery Eddie, Steve, and Dan
Our Dear Friend Steve, Thank you for welcoming Bill and I into your home when we were new on Swan Beach. All the times sitting around the table you telling stories of places I have only dreamt of . It was magical. We meet a lot of folks on our life’s journey but you Steve are so special. You were the go to guy for all information with the biggest ...
My brother was who I admired and looked up to & wanted to be like. He always was outgoing and engaged with everyone around him. He had a spirit that would never quit & always be there when you needed. He was balanced like a wheel in life with his mental,spiritual,social and physical attributes that made him so loving and adorable! I have so many me...
Steve will always be a part of our home here in Swan. Beautiful Swandipity is the Rothrock’s house and always will be. We remember being greeted by Steve upon our arrival to Swan Beach. Immediately, we were embraced by kindness, selflessness, generosity and hospitality. Steve was always willing to help with anything you needed – always. Steve gav...
My last note to Steve Dear friend When we first met, my immediate impression was of your energy and positivity that was like a giant wave hitting someone standing on the shore. I didn’t think it could be sustained. Surely, you’d flatten and normalize. You didn’t. It was who you were. I hate having to use the past tense. We did a bit of work togeth...
We only had the pleasure of knowing Steve and Deb for 4 years. They were so welcoming when we moved into Swan. Steve was very helpful with all of his dune building knowledge and was happy to pass that on to Joe! Steve would stop by where I was working in Kitty Hawk just to say hello and it was always a nice surprise and a lovely part of my day. I...
Dear Deb, Kim and Family Rothrock. It is a gift from God for the times we shared together. Steve is gone from this earth, but his spirit lives on, and he will never, ever be forgotten. May God be with you all.love, Frank and Therese McHugh , Allyson and Jimmy Van, Gemma and Toili Niu and Joshua Luke McHugh
I had the immense pleasure and honor of working with Steve a few times over the years at JMJ. As every one notes he was a larger than life character who engaged everyone in his enthusiasm. I was able to support Steve a few times on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project. Watching Steve work with the client team was a thing of beauty. When he led the...
Kim, my very first memory of your Dad is when he took us to look at the wild horses on the Outer Banks. It was a beautiful July night just days before your wedding and he was ecstatic. He always seemed to live in the moment, so while he was overjoyed about the events to come and I remember how happy he was to show us the beauty of his favorite plac...
So many great memories with Steve - from Saudi (the diving!) to OBX (the fishing!) to Mobil. But the one I'll share here is when the Risos and Rothrocks traveled to Australia together in '94. There, at a hotel pool deck in the middle of the desert outside Uluru, we came across a little snake. Declaring it harmless, Steve kept stepping right in fron...
First, condolences to the family for their loss. I first met Steve in January 1980 working a strike at the Mobil Beaumont Refinery. We were assigned to work on a Furfural unit. He was a bright, young engineer from Paulsboro. I was always impressed by his positive attitude and his knack for bringing out the best in any situation. I worked with ...
Debbie, Kim and Family Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Steve. So, so sorry and sad to hear the shocking news, our thoughts and prayers go out to you, Kim and the rest of the family. We definitely agree with you that Steve lived life to the fullest and have so many fond memories of our early days together at Mobil and al...
FEAST OF ALL SOULS The individuals listed here were honored with Christian burial from St. Mary’s since the Feast of All Souls last year. They will be commemorated in a special way at an All Souls Mass, Monday, November 2 at 7 PM A candle will be lit in each one’s memory as their name is read. They and all our beloved dead will be kept in prayer t...
Debra Rothrock Steve's final resting place is in St Mary's Cemetery in Needham, MA, just a few minutes from Kim and Steve's home. May he rest in peace and see the face of God. He is in my thoughts and prayers everyday. I am now living in a home just a few minutes away too. I am blessed to have my family nearby.
Debra Rothrock Steve, On the first anniversary of your passing, I share this note that I gave you many years ago. My Love, even though you are where you are and I am still here... I still seek I still cling I still want To talk the rest of the way with you.
Happy 70th Birthday Steve! Although I miss you every day, I am comforted knowing that you are in a good place now. Love, Debbie
Tracey Rothrock Happy birthday bro. Miss you and I think about you all the time. Hope Mickie isn't driving you crazy. Love sis Tracey
Debra Rothrock HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY STEVE! Your favorite chocolate and buttercream.
Debra Rothrock September 23, 2022 Aunt Mary and cousin Jessica visit Steve’s gravesite at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Needham, MA.
Debra Rothrock Happy 72nd birthday ! 10/4/1951