Life is short. We hear this often. We say it often. And at some point we really really feel it. This is one of those weeks when I feel it intensely. I am heartbroken to announce the passing this week of my very close friend, Steve Liffick. With the thoughtful consent of his love and life partner Mindy Westerman I want to share with you what made Steve such an awesome friend.
When I met Steve we were both in Microsoft Education. He'd been Steve Ballmer’s intern and had a tenure 30+ years with a passion for helping students and educators by making geeky behind-the-scenes stuff work. As I came into the org as a new tech exec in a place that often grew leaders through the ranks, Steve was the epitome of welcome: Thoughtful, introducing me to good smart kind people, showing me how things worked, and open to new ideas. We became friends out of work and he and I and my kids went to many local adventures. I saw his deep empathy for all, peers & those he managed (including emerging women leaders). He helped other people rise. He was humble, silly, and willing to admit when he was wrong.
During a few challenging years in Steve’s life, I watched him fight to persevere with prevailing optimism. He worked every day to make the world better, for others and himself (health & lifestyle). He evolved in recent years, finding joy in a so many ways. He actively invested in relationships, repairing ones that needed care, and as a quieter empathetic human he listened a lot. He did more happy activities appreciating art and artists, remodeling his home to reflect his love of art. We had fun at the Seattle Art Faire. He traveled extensively reveling in new places, riding his bike across Europe, seeking out tasty food, and visiting family all over the world. Steve went to more theatre and music, raced cars, and lived it up. I will never forget him introducing me to the musical Wicked; he’d seen it three times that season. He dated and found a wonderful partner (Mindy) to join him on his adventures and the two of them were awesome together. I saw a really happy Steve in recent years. My last visit with him, we went for a walk and he was thinking actively about what he wanted to do next in his life. He talked about his relationship, his family, his kids, his upcoming car racing, and he made time to ask me about my life and what was going on with my family.
I feel grateful to have known Steve for the time we got - it’s never enough but the time we had was excellent. I am especially grateful to have seen how happy he’s been in recent years. I will always remember him, my kids will remember him, those of you who knew him will remember him. It’s a good reminder that if you’re not living the life that you want to be living - your time is now.
Steve Liffick’s memorial will be held May 4th, 2024 from 3-7pm in Seattle. Please message directly for the details. Please feel free to share your stories below in comments - we'd love to see them.
