Stephen Sebastian Dumser

Steve was born to Joseph and Monica Dumser on May 12, 1945 and joined his brother Robert "Bob" and sister Monica. His family moved from Greenwich to Danbury, Newtown, and then to Candlewood Shores in Brookfield. He attended St. Peter School in Danbury, and, like most parochial educated children, he had stories about the nuns of his early education. His teen years in Candlewood Shores provided the landscape for boating, water skiing, skating, and time hanging out with friends. Some of those friendships lasted into adulthood; Tom, Don, Terry as well as other members of the "shores gang" were featured in the many stories of teenage adventures and misadventures.

Since Brookfield did not have a high school, Steve attended and then graduated from Danbury High School in 1964. It was during his sophomore year that he began to date "Ricki" Hobson. They married in 1969 and were married for 51 years. He was a loving and supportive husband and he and Ricki shared a committed and caring relationship that withstood the test of time.

After high school Steve attended St. Bonaventure University, but his education was interrupted in 1966 when the Draft Board was pulling up eligible numbers. Steve chose to enlist in the Air Force and served 4 years, first in Turkey and then at FT. Meade in MD where he was attached to the NSA. After his discharge he returned to St. Bonaventure studying Finance and working part time at campus security. He graduated in 1973 and soon after began working at AMICA as an underwriter in the White Plains, NY branch. He moved with the company to Baltimore then back to Brewster, NY and eventually to the Brookfield branch office. He retired from AMICA in 2003 as the Underwriting Manager and Assistant Branch Manager. He was a supportive boss, his Underwriting Representatives knew he could be counted on to listen and respond to their concerns.

Steve was a loving father of two children; Rachel and Christopher "Chris." Many a day after work he could be seen on the floor playing "stormtrooper" with the kids on his back. He enjoyed family activities especially traveling, camping, skiing, and particularly a cross country camping trip in a station wagon towing a pop-up tent camper in 1981. Family vacations to RI and NC with his sister and Tom and the kids Tom, Monica, and Tim were enjoyable as well as travels to FL to visit his parents. Steve was always proud of his children and supportive of their aspirations.

Steve was an active member of the Lions Club of Danbury and partcipated in many of their charity and fundraising events as well as leadership positions. Although it may be hard to believe, Steve was an avid square dancer with the Brookfield Trailblazers Square dance club. He and Ricki enjoyed attending dances held in the area with friends and neighbors. But golf was a favorite activity and he was always ready to play as long as someone else did the work of setting up the tee times, particularly at Richter. He enjoyed playing in charity events and was a patient golf partner especially for Ricki who was easily frustrated with the game. He played until he also became frustrated as his health and vitality decreased. Steve loved winter sports particularly skiing and snowmobiling with his brother Bob and Pat and all the boys; Joe, RJ, Jim, and Chris in VT. Steve looked up to his brother and was heartbroken when Bob passed away in 1995.

It was then that he and Ricki decided to get a head start on their retirement plan to travel and bought their first small motor home. With the philosophy of "life is too short" they set off to Montana the following summer. The seed was planted and by the time of his retirement in 2003 there was a bigger motor home, and with Chris tending to the house, Steve and Ricki crisscrossed the country visiting new destinations and many National Parks, making new friends, and enjoyiong the joys AND challenges of living on the road. And then along came a grandchild. Chris' son Cade was born in 2010  and the traveling became wintering in FL, visiting Rachel in Baltimore, and summering in CT and at Streamside Campground and RV destination in Pulaski, NY.

Steve and Ricki were happy on the road and enjoyed the many friendships that were made over the years, Maxine and Doug at Half Moon Lake in FL, Audrey, Chuck, Rone, and Susan at Streamside and many others along the way. Eventually they bought a home in Sebring, FL where his old friend from Brookfield, Tom and his wife Susan lived. Steve enjoyed his winters in FL sharing the duplex with Ricki's sister Lynn and Dennis, walking the trails of Highlands Hammock State Park, boating with Tom and Susan, and enjoying the fact that he did not have to shovel snow ever again.

Steve died at home in Sebring on February 15, 2020 and was cremated. His remains will join his parents, brother, and grandparents in St Mary's Cemetery in Bethel, CT. As he had wished, some ashes were scattered in Montana by Ricki, Chris, Cade, Luisa and Aeden in August. And some have joined Tom's and Kevin's ashes in Candlewood Lake in the waters they each enjoyed while growing up.

May the memories of a life well-lived be comforting to those who miss him.