Stephen Alan Gershenson
January 19, 1951 - August 5, 2018 (age 67)
Stephen Alan Gershenson passed away on August 5, 2018 while in hospice care in Creve Coeur, MO following a battle with cancer, through which he kept his characteristic good humor and bright spirits. He was 67 years old.
Steve was born January 19, 1951 in Fairfield, IL. Growing up, Steve loved baseball, basketball, and most of all, music. Aside from a few stints in Evansville and Mt. Vernon, Steve resided in Fairfield until his mother's death in 2002, when he relocated to the Belleville, IL area.
Steve was a talented trombone player in grade school and in the Fairfield Community High School band. Like many of his generation, he adored the Beatles, and while in junior high, Steve, along with Lew Ratcliff, Dave Land, and Les Wilson, started a Beatles pantomime show that performed at local venues. Steve played John Lennon and even signed autographs after the shows. In 1967, Steve formed a rock In roll band, Rainy Daze, and played lead guitar alongside Dave Land (bass guitar) Matt Higdon (keyboard), Dean Blessing (drums), and Steve Kerchner (part-time vocalist). The band played at area teen towns and high school homecomings and proms. Whereas most bands had to wait for the sheet music for new songs to come out, Steve was so musically talented that he could listen to a song and instantly figure out the chords and notes to play for all of the band members. Steve could play six string guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums.
In high school, Steve was rear ended in a serious car accident that nearly took his life. After a period of prolonged recovery, Steve graduated from FCHS and later received a degree in accounting from Indiana State in Evansville.
Through the years, Steve worked in variety of positions including operating room technician at Fairfield Memorial Hospital and local news reporter at WFIW radio. He also spent a number of years playing evening entertainment at the Fairfield Elks Club and other local venues.
Steve loved animals (particularly cats), the Chicago Cubs, and sharing a good conversation with a friend or lively banter with a group of buddies. He had an uncanny ability to remember dates and trivia about sports, music, and TV and also enjoyed feisty political discussions, especially with those who held opposing viewpoints. Most of all, Steve was known to his family and friends for his intellect, generosity, and clever sense of humor. There was never a dull moment with Steve around. He could make a quick friend of any stranger and had a heart of gold.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. David A. and Clara Lucille Gershenson.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Dr. David M. and Michelle(Michelle) Gershenson of Houston, TX; his nieces Dr. Rebecca (Ian) Smith of Coeur d'Alene, ID; Rachel Gershenson of Houston, Texas and Hannah Gershenson of Dallas, Texas, his great nieces and great nephews Lillian Smith, Adeline Smith, and Alistair Smith of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.
In celebration of Steve's love for music amnd in lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to the Fairfield Community High School band which can be sent to FCHS, 300 West King Street, Fairfield, Illinois 62837. ATTN: Jill Fulkerson with Steve Gershenson in the memo line.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2018 at Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield, Illinois. Friends and family are asked to go directly to the cemetery.
| Visit Our Neighbors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | Clay | Richland | |
| Jefferson |
 |
Edwards | |
| Franklin | Hamilton | White | |
