Dr. Steven G Curtis

Our beloved father, Steven Curtis entered into heaven on July 30, 2020. We have no doubt he made quite the entrance, and every head turned to see him pass through the gates. He was most certainly happy to see both his mother Elizabeth, and father Ernest, who had predeceased him. Born in Bronx, New York, Steven attended Trenton State College, New York University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), where he studied to be an Orthodontist. His Post- Doctoral Master’s thesis was entitled: “A Vector Analysis of the Straight Begg Arch Wire Throughout Stages I and II In the Mandible.” Our father also served in the U.S. Army, and we remember two stories he told from his time in the service. The first, how he thought it was funny that just after a forced march in the snow at a training exercise at Fort Drum in New York state, his Commanding Officer served everyone ice cream. The second story revolved around our father getting in a bit of trouble and being told to do 50 push-ups. Dad, never one to be bowed, didn’t miss a beat, and asked his drill sergeant simply, “sir, would you like those done with one or two arms, and on palms or finger tips?” Interestingly, his unit was also placed on alert for the invasion of Cuba (which never came) in the early 1960s. In 1966 he was married to our beloved mother Rosemary, and became a practicing Orthodontist for many years, having two offices in New Jersey. While one might assume that a person with his education and professional standing, that he was a guy that liked being dressed in a suit and that he liked fancy things. To be clear, while he loved his red Corvette, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Growing up, it wasn’t uncommon to see our father breaking a serious sweat while crafting something in the garage out of wood or metal. He was also incredibly handy and could fix almost anything. He was the type of guy you could give dental floss and glue to, and he’d find a way to build you a sculpture of the Eiffel tower. Our father was also very athletic. He loved to ski, jet ski, play paintball, lift weights, and hike through the woods. And while in school, he ran track (the half mile), was a soccer and football player and a gymnast. He had extreme mental and physical strength which helped him excel as an athlete and as a father and husband throughout his entire life. His mind was always running – all day, every day. He loved to read, and could carry a conversation with anyone, on any subject (from science, to history, and anything else you could come up with) at any time. Politics was a favorite subject of his, and may God be with you if you disagreed with him. What most people probably don’t know about dad was that he survived a very serious airplane crash, a major car accident, and a motorcycle crash. Yet he always came back stronger in spirit, and he joked that he had nine lives. If you met our father, you might not agree with everything he had to say. That’s okay. He didn’t care. Not even a little bit. He was incredibly self-confident, could debate with the best of them, had quick wit, and was sharp as a tack at all times. You couldn’t help but respect him. In fact, there is a phrase that perhaps best encapsulates the type of person our father was. “No better friend, no worse enemy.” That was true until the day he passed. As we look back, he wasn’t always the easiest guy to get along with. But that was on purpose. That was his way of making us tough, teaching us that life isn’t always a bed of roses, and that no matter what happens, or how dark the day or outlook, it is imperative that we all keep moving forward. However, his best quality, and the thing that he instilled in us, and demanded that we pass along to the next generation was his discipline and determination. We were taught from an early age that the word “quit” was never to be used in the house. It didn’t exist. It literally wasn’t in the dictionary. Practicing what he preached throughout his life, he never stopped, never hesitated, never quit, no matter the task (big, nor small) and the odds and the number of people that were against him. And that philosophy extended literally until his last second of life. To that end, we are so proud of the battle he fought for the last two months. He showed us strength on a level that we never knew existed. The fact is (and he probably would not have admitted it) we think he loved having his back against the wall and the odds against stacked against him. It’s when he shined the most! He will be greatly missed by his daughter Jill, his son Glenn and his daughter-in-law Kristene, as well as his grandchildren, Morgan and Madison and his wife Pam. In closing, our father lived an exceptional life. He was intelligent, handsome, a great father, grandfather and husband. And we ask that you remember those things about him, and that you remember all of the good times and lessons learned. Finally, if you were one of his enemies (he had a few), and you are reading this, we are certain that he would tell you one last time to “Go to hell!” God bless you dad. The torch has been passed. You are relieved. Well done sir! In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to: Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ 07092 would be appreciated.

Dr. Steven G Curtis

February 27, 1941 - July 30, 2020