I met Steven three years ago when I first moved to San Francisco. He lived in the apartment I currently live in. He was introduced to me by a group of his Chicago friends (Fiona, Winnie, Sooyoung & Sharon Dang). He sold his bed to me before he left for NYC.

Steven and I shared similar interests in music, food, literature and karaoke. There were so many late nights of all of us getting together either for concerts, cooking dinner (Steven was the master bbq/seafood expert guy) and singing karaoke.

Being both self-employed/unemployed this past winter, Steven was always around to help when I had a computer problem. Not too long ago, my hard drive got wiped out and he spent the whole afternoon fixing it. In exchange he wanted me to cook a big breakfast for him, but due to the lack of time we ended up at my favorite Korean diner, where they serve bibimbap and pancakes. We pigged out on corned beef hash and poached eggs, and I promised to cook for him next time.

Tobin, Che and I went to see Steven in the hospital in early January. He was good spirits but he was concerned about his health and he swore off drinking and partying ever again. I gently reminded him that Tobin and I were having a birthday party that week and he would have to share a drink with us. The drive back home was somber and I remember discussing mortality and how we needed to take better care of ourselves and cherish our friends.

Despite his weak state Steven still made it to my birthday party. My dearest and most recent memory of Steven in San Francisco was his presence at a small dinner party held before my birthday at a gourmet Chinese restaurant. Steven could not resist surveying the fish quality at the restaurant, and even though he was not sure if his stomach could take it, he enjoyed portions of the 5-course meal of crab, beef, soup and vegetables. I believe it was his final big meal in SF before he left for Los Angeles.

While I regret not being able to visit him in LA, my thoughts were with him and you. I recall when he first met you and he let everyone know accidentally via email that he was “happy as a clam.” He had a rep as a player so everyone had to tease him mercilessly and his nickname from that day on was “Clamboy.”

-Lila Hussain

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