STEVE SOSZYNSKI
Biography Details Soszynski 

~ In Loving Memory

The words that follow cannot truly express my sadness at this immense loss. My wife (Terry) Theresa passed away at home in my arms on August 14th 2022. An angel’s passing, way too soon at 71 years young, no pain, no drama. Her last words to me, as she and I spoke them everyday were…Love You More…Her passing is devastating for me. Terry and I had 45 “extra” ordinary years together. Traveling extensively, volunteering for decades at civic organizations, rescue squad ,fire company, ladies auxilary, Red Cross amongst others. We were both EMT’s, Terry an A-EMT(advanced) and she made Captain of the rescue squad. She in life would never of any of this, saving lives, birthing children and many more beautiful acts. Not her style to speak to any of that. She would not, but now that she has passed I am spilling the beans on her life of selflessness and generosity, gratitude and patience.

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“Ode to Terry”

Honey, till the end of time you will forever remain my only love
Devoted to loving, caring, sharing.
Love in this life and into the afterlife.
Your life of giving till it hurts.
Giving of spirit, heart, and of pocket.
A life of service to others is your legacy that will live on in me and any others who were fortunate enough to know you.
Love You More

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I now reside in Hudson, NY along with Charlotte our near 13 year old mixed rescue companion doggie. (I am now 72) Terry’s fully certified and trained service dog.  We carry on together in Terry’s honor as best we can. To speak plainly…life sucks without her…some how our tails will come out from between our legs. Need now to express to all the very dear friends we have established over many, many decades. They have been our rescue angels. And not virtually, but literally saved my life.

In closing, Terry was the biggest miracle of my life, secondly it is the miracle of friendship has become so apparent and crystal clear.  My deep heartfelt gratitude to all for the love, support and kindness.

This is a gift I created for Terry’s birthday on March 8th 2023. It contains all her favorite things, Sunflowers, Dolphins, Birds, Black Bears, Music, Turtles, Trees, Pet Pawprints, New Orleans and the Fluer di Lis, and of course, Mermaids, all with hearts and stars.

Made through tears of love.



Terry on her birthday in 2017 in the Florida Keys. Fulfilling one of her dreams, to swim with the Dolphins, which she did, the bliss visible in her smile. This Dolphin named, Rainbow, Flipper’s great granddaughter, so gentle. Then a beautiful thing, Rainbow dove deep in the large enclosure and resurfaced and handed Terry a gift of a piece of white coral and mouth to hand it was gifted…wow…the attendant said although not unprecedented not common, so Terry as the full blown Pisces she is was yes, blown away. It remains a precious treasure.

 


Charlotte, so sweet can give you cavities.

Terry always said of her…”she can’t hold her licker…She a beautiful companion.

 

Born August 9, 1950, Yonkers, N.Y., USA 

Biography Details Soszynski – Began drawing very early…Mom said I went through crayons ‘like nobody’s business’. In grade school was pulled from class often to paint backgrounds for plays and such, which proved to be good practice for a job many years later building and painting scenic backdrops for TV, MTV, Broadway, catalogs, etc. For many years did color matching for custom wallpaper & drapery companies as well as for major auto manufacturers. In ‘79 after studying at The New York School of Holography (now defunct) I began producing my own and other artist’s holograms at a time when holography was in its infancy. I developed a process that would change ‘reflection holograms’ from mostly shades of green to near actual color, or red and violet…and even clear. One of the pieces I had shown was a small sculpture made of clear tubes of plexiglass. Unfortunately, the process eventually degraded the image over time and I was unable to discover a work around. That year and the years that followed were a very exciting years…I was approached by Hart Perry & Bill Moltini to work at The Holographic Film Company in NYC as a Master Holographer producing original pieces suitable for making copies. I was invited to participate in a show at the now defunct Museum of Holography in NYC alongside Salvator Dali, Dennis Gabor, Rudy Berkhout, Hart Perry, Bill Moltini and others. While working with HFC I produced holograms for other artists among whom were Salvador Dali, Blondie and many more. During this time became good friends with Deborah Harry & Chris Stein of Blondie. HFC was hired and provided holograms for their hit song ‘The Tide Is High’ music video (copyright@ Holographic Film Corp.). A close friendship with renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquait developed…Jean very quickly after became famous and celebrated and passed away much too early at the age of 28. I had the opportunity to be in a film with him about the music and art scene in NYC called “Downtown ’81”. Another friend, Glenn O’Brien was part of the group producing it and asked if I’d take a part. Very early in the movie I share a scene with Jean. It was a wonderful movie that won quite a few awards. Through the years I continued painting works of varied styles, mostly abstract, figurative surrealism, showing and selling… as the result of shows, visits to my studio or to private collectors.  In 1989 my wife and I moved from our Brooklyn home of 10 yrs. to the Catskill Mountains of New York State where we became EMT’s, and I a volunteer fireman, along with other civil volunteer work we performed. Started a small business in Woodstock, N.Y., a pet supply called ‘Woofstock’ (no pets, just supplies). Operated that for nearly 29 yrs. until we sold it and retired to the west coast of Florida (just above Tampa) where we reside with our 2 rescue dogs (Bubu & Charlotte) a flock of finches and a tank filled with tropical fish.

Biography Details Soszynski – Our connection to New Orleans runs 30 yrs. deep at it’s roots, strong and firm in it’s grasp on our hearts. In ‘89, our first visit (merely an overnight!), we journeyed home to N.Y. the proud owners of a timeshare on Decatur in the quarter. We vowed to use it every other year but often found ourselves haunting the quarter on consecutive years and exploring much of the surrounding areas, i.e., Metarie, Slidell, Garden District, Algiers and as far out as  and all in between…loving every single thing about NOLA and it’s environs…we couldn’t get enough…still can’t! We sold that timeshare in 2014 and now stay with friends, at hotels or home rentals when we visit which is at least every year now. My wife and I worked twice (in 2006 & 2007) with Habitat for Humanity in the lower ninth ward on The Musicians Village project…and also during that time with ‘Rebuilding Together NOLA’.  I had a show which ran from 2003 into 2005 when Katrina blew in and that Royal Street gallery closed. Also, the owner had become ill and passed away. Didn’t approach a NOLA gallery again until very recently (March 2019) and, as fate may have planned it, was offered a show by the lovely gentleman who now owns THE EXACT SAME GALLERY I showed in all those years ago! What are the chances of that happening with so many art galleries in the quarter?! ~ It was an honor for me to have my vision of NOLA inspired art displayed in the Big Easy.

Biography Details Soszynski – Have had many gallery shows and one museum show over the years, and have been fortunate to have sold approximately four dozen assorted artworks, some collectors have purchased multiple pieces.

ARTIST HEROES:

Kandinsky

El Greco

Chagall

Basquait

LIFE HEROES:

Thoreau

Dali Llama

Groucho Marx

Ed Sanders

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An Abridged Bio

Artist (paintings)

Painter (House)

Painter (Scenic)

Carpenter (House & Cabinets)

Carpenter (Scenic)

Color Matcher

Holographer

Clock Maker

Guitar Player

Gallery Owner

Small Business Owner

Hospital Volunteer

Fireman (Volunteer)

EMT (Volunteer)

Actor (‘Downtown ’81’)

Archer

Residing in Florida with Theresa, wife of 43 years, our 2 dogs, Bubu & Charlotte, and many finches!

Biography Details Soszynski

 

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