Stephen Quick

Stephen Quick, 68, of Traverse City and formerly of Madison Heights, died at home from heart complications on October 30, 2024.

Steve was born September 12, 1956 to Harley and Georgia Quick. He is survived by his three brothers Kevin Quick, Bill Davis, and Henry Davis. From a young age, Steve had a magnetic personality that naturally attracted others and, as he would say, made it easy for him to get away with anything, He liked to brag that he had a set of keys to his high school, Madison High in Madison Heights, Michigan, and the teachers all knew but turned a blind eye. People naturally trusted Steve, and he didn’t let people down once he had that trust.

It was in middle school band that Steve first found his love for music, a passion that would play into everything he did for his entire life. He continued excelling at instrumental and vocal music through high school and into adulthood. Music was Steve’s love language and like everything else about him, it drew people to him. He worked as a recording engineer, wrote music for multiple projects, was a member of several bands, and was a score film producer. With all of his skill and accomplishments, Steve was happiest to just be playing his saxophone (his “horn” as called it) and singing with friends. Seeing others enjoy his talent was worth more to him than any paycheck.

Steve married Char (Rauen) Lindsay in 1989. Together they created music and gave a wonderful life to their dogs Bogie and Pete. In 2004, Steve married his middle school crush, Heather (Rowell) Quick, With this marriage Steve inherited a daughter, Sarah, a son-in-law, Shane in 2009, and in 2010 a granddaughter, Cailin. Steve fell into the role of bonus-dad and grandpa as easily as he fell into everything else he tried. His family was his pride and joy. Steve and Heather lived out the next almost 20 years enjoying the little things in life: traveling, watching old movies, and of course, music. He sat by Heather’s side after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis and held her hand for the next six years until she passed away in December of 2023.

To know Steve was to love him. Everyone who knew him could tell you something different about him that they loved and appreciated. He will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his willingness to listen and his generous heart, being quick to offer anything he had to a friend who needed it.

An informal memorial will be held at Life Story Funeral Home in Traverse City on December 5th. Friends and family can visit from 4 to 7, and enjoy an evening of music, poetry, laughter and cookies. The most fitting ending for Steve that I can imagine is the one he’d always give me with a smirk as I left his house: “Goodbye, and have fun stormin’ the castle!”

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