In memory of our friend

Steve Goldman



glass artist Gretchen Niver's husband, an artist in his own way, creative, talented and loved.



Steve was building a Velocity airplane. Here he is seen sitting in the cockpit of his work in progress.

New story about Steve



When they first began hang gliding,
Gretchen and Steve got a personalized license tag that read
Sky ‘N-Out. It was on their old red, 1982 pickup forever,
then transferred to newer vehicles over the years.
This photo was shot at Mt. Buffalo, Austrailia, where Steve
had to scope out the launch, but didn’t have his flying gear
with him on the trip.


Steve Goldman

My beloved husband of 34 years, and greatest friend, Steve Goldman,(56), died suddenly on June 30, 2008 of an aortic aneurism, while aboard an Alaskan cruise ship. Fortunately, his entire Florida family was present to share what were to be his last days, and to join together in grief and shock at his passing.
Steve was an incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable, softhearted, fascinating, and multi-faceted man. An Engineer with an EE degree from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Master of Computer Science degree from UNC, he could do almost anything. He was a Senior Software Engineer for Sun Microsystems, and a wiz at fixing bugs — or so I was told, as his work was always way above my head. He could build everything from circuit boards and reef aquarium systems, telescopes and a telescope mirror-grinding machine, to a hangar, with attached observatory, and decks (no matter how intricate my design), and played a major role, along with his brother, Dave, in the building of our home.
He was half way through the construction of a five-seat, fiberglass Velocity aircraft, which he'd hoped to complete in a couple more years. He was an IFR-rated pilot, who also flew hang gliders, and used to scuba dive, as well. Steve could fix cars, computers, lawnmowers... you name it. As he learned at an early age from his father, Frank, he never let "...a dumb thing get the better of [him]."
Steve had an interest in all animals, and even became a beekeeper in recent years, but he especially loved our cats, and I know they'll be continuing to wait at the door every night for him to come home and feed them. They'll miss his lap on the couch in the evenings while he sat at his laptop.
Though not a biological father, Steve became a loving one to my two nieces, Katie and Gretchen Niver, who came to live with us in their teen years.
They'll be a comfort to me with him gone.
Besides myself, and a multitude of loving friends, Steve leaves behind his mother, Alice, and husband Leo Accardi, sister Sandy; brother, Chris, wife, Julie and sons, Ryan and Justin; brother Dave, wife, Sue, and daughter, Amy; sister, Linda, and husband, Steve Camp; and sister, Laurie.
A gathering of friends and family will be held at Fat Cat Air on July 26 to celebrate his life. Donations can be made in his name to the Carnivore Preservation Trust in Pittsboro, NC, or the Conservators' Center, Inc. in Mebane, NC.
Steve will be missed every minute of every day for the rest of my life.
Gretchen Niver