Steven M. Goldsberry

Steven Marshall Goldsberry (8/3/52—3/15/23)

Steve was born in Riverside, California the son of James Francis Goldsberry and Marilyn (VanBuskirk) Goldsberry and passed away in Milford, Ohio. Steve was preceded in death by his wife of over 30 years, Susan Chere Hartzband, and is survived by his siblings: Cynthia Lyn (James) Geiman; Sharon Lu (Pete) Mulllins; Richard John (Susan) Goldsberry; Pamela Ann (John) Hermansdorfer as well as his daughter Erica Koe-Krompecher and step-sons Zoltan (Tina) Krompecher and Bela Koe-Krompecher. Grandpa Steve had many grandchildren-- Leah, Ann, Jack, Casandra, Amanda, Saskia and Bruno and great-grandchildren—whom he showered with love and treats during the countless hours spent at his house. His grandchildren enjoyed summers in the pool and just being at grandma and grandpa’s house where there wasn’t a tv in the living room but plenty of conversation and entertainment.

Steve was a Military Brat whose father was in the Air Force, an occupation that had the family moving a great deal where he spent parts of his childhood in California, Maine, Louisiana and, finally in Ross County Ohio. As a child, Steve learned a love of nature that lasted throughout his life. He often remarked that he would have been happy being a farmer, but he made due with spoiling the hundreds of birds that visited the house he shared with Susan, gorging themselves on the variety of seeds and nuts he put out for them.

Steve’s recovery from a troubled early adulthood lead him into a career and drive to help others avoid, and recover, from similar experiences. He fell in love with Susan, married, and dedicated himself to improving and giving hope to others. His work with Clermont County Recovery Services, as well as countless state and local boards, touched and transformed thousands of lives. More importantly to his family, his wisdom, humor and compassion helped their own lives while providing lessons on how to live an honorable life. It is very hard to put into a handful of words how much Steve touched the lives around him, even if he sometimes preferred listening to some of his favorite music at full volume in his bedroom. He had a smile, a kind word, and a generosity for everyone. His life was surrounded by music, drawn to it by the guitar playing of his father and he grew up listening to the sounds of Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Roger Miller until discovering Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground. He enjoyed playing, blues style, on his National guitars. Later in life, he immersed himself in the sounds of Alfred Schniktte and Shostakovich.

Steve graduated from Zane Trace High School, Class of 1970. Later would earn his BSW from the University of Cincinnati and his MSW from Northern Kentucky. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, as well as those who didn’t, but whose lives have been positively affected by him.