Ken Stevens Memorial

October 8, 1963 — October 20, 2014

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Kenneth Stevens Memories

From Lon Horwedel

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Ken Stevens Photographer Muskegon ChronicleI actually started my first internship (I would have two more) at the Chronicle in September of 1988 when Ken was still on his honeymoon, so I actually didn’t meet him for nearly two weeks after I started. I already had a love affair with Muskegon before Kenny arrived back in town since it strongly resembled where I grew up in Ohio (near Sandusky), only with a much better shoreline. When Kenny returned from his honeymoon, things only got better. He already knew who I was, even though we hadn’t met, and our love of sports quickly bonded us (Ken was a great athlete, something that hasn’t been mentioned all that much since it’s not really that important, but it’s still another amazing thing about him) and even though we both loved photojournalism, I liked the fact that he wasn’t all-consumed by it, like some photojournalists can be.

He had a life separate from taking pictures that was equally important, and would become more important when his children were born.

In fact, we rarely talked about photography, it was always about something else … funny stories, childhood remembrances, whatever. Of course, Ken was only a year older than I am, so we had a lot in common. His self-depracation was also a joy to behold. Never had I come across anyone so talented, who found it such a joy to bash his own skills in such a hilarious fashion (normally involving his first glance at his negatives at the light table with a clever combination of expletives, “You piece of ******* *******, why don’t you learn how to focus!”) which not only made him seem extremely humble, but also a comic genius.

I don’t think I ever met someone who loved to laugh as much as Ken. It’s strange to think I only really spent 20-months working with the guy, but I always considered him one of my closest friends, despite the fact that we might go a year or two without speaking to each other. The memories in the short time I worked with Ken will stay with me a lifetime, as will his influence on me as a human being.

If there is another person in this world who is more kind, or genuine than Ken Stevens was in his short life, I surely never met them.

RIP Kenny.

From Cindy Fairfield

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My favorite Ken Stevens story was when he came out to our farm with a young lady who was job shadowing (Ken was always so generous with his time) to shoot a photograph of Lumberjack Scott Feasby for a big sports story we were doing. I went into the barn to get a bale of hay for a prop and when I emerged, it was like a scene out of The Birds. Ken was helping lift the young woman from the ground after this gigantic (and extremely mean) black swan my husband had acquired for our pond had basically flogged her to the ground and was on top of her.

Ken used his expensive photo equipment to finally free the bird from the woman, who was lying face down on the ground with a pretty good-sized rip in her jeans. And when it was all over. You got it! There was that wry, trademark smile. How privileged I have been to have had so many interesting experiences with this wonderful man. And, of course, we will all miss his five-alarm chili, which was a staple at so many
Chronicle potlucks over the years.

From Rob Alway

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Farewell Ken Stevens, shoot pretty forever more.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief
October 21, 2014

Over the past 27 years in journalism I have met many colleagues in the profession. A select few of those stand-out as mentors and friends. Monday, I heard the news that one of those colleagues/friends/mentors died suddenly at the young age of 51. Ken Stevens was media specialist at M-Live.com/Muskegon Chronicle, where he had worked for 28 years. I have known Ken for pretty much the past 25 years.

When I was attending college, I got to know the photographers at the Chronicle. Ken went out of his way to treat me as an equal and to also become my friend. He let me shadow him while he worked.

Through the years we have crossed paths on many breaking news stories, most recently the murder trial of Eric Knysz, the man who killed Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Butterfield, and also the case against Sean Phillips, the man who is accused of killing his infant daughter, “Baby Kate.”

Ken always had a smile on his face and always took time to ask about my family.

He was one of the great photojournalists and western Michigan was blessed to have him share his talents with us on the pages of the Chronicle and Mlive.

From Megan Gielow

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Ken was one of the first people to believe that I could be a photojournalist. He let me shadow him as a high schooler, apply for the fall internship AFTER the deadline, and then gave me the job…even though my portfolio was weak. I interned at The Muskegon Chronicle during one of the worst times for the newspaper industry. People who had worked at TMC for 20+ years were being laid off every other week. Ken always made sure to bring good food to the “goodbye” parties and remembered the birthdays of the small staff that was left. He always made time to have a quality conversation and never, ever was in a bad mood…no matter how rough that season became.

I never had another editor like Ken. He was always honest about my work, but also kind and understanding. I know he (like many of the other dedicated staffers) worked plenty of unpaid overtime hours, just to keep the paper afloat. He was a person that believed in the power of journalism, the community, and keeping the local paper alive. I also appreciated that I was never treated like an intern, but rather like a staffer with equally amazing, challenging assignments.

There’s a photo that hangs in my husband’s childhood bedroom that Ken took many, many years ago. Brendan had just started his “career” at the young age of three, and the paper was covering the story. I know his family (and I) cherish that photo, and I’m sure MANY others in the community will remember and be grateful for the numerous stories he’s captured through the years.

Ken, we will all miss you lots.

From Janet Walker

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Firstly, I am SO sorry and SO shocked to hear the sad news about Ken. He truly was an inspiration to many people of all kinds….interns, elementary students, education staff, sport enthusiasts….you name it; he covered it. Not only did he cover it, but it did it with so much passion with his camera and compassion to the people he took pictures of. I remember him so FONDLY and admired the way he just made me feel at ease when he was covering something at school. Whether it was me in my “principal role” or me in my “teaching role” he just shot picture after picture and was so into it.

I knew him when I was principal in the Heights; principal at Jolman; principal at the alternative education program and finally when I returned to the classroom after my husband passed away. Twenty seven years in education our paths crossed several times. He did such a great job that I had several of his pictures professional framed and look at them frequently.

Last year he came to my classroom the first day of school and I was reading a story and acting it out with a puppet. He wandered around the room with such ease and comfort and made the children feel comfortable too. He was such a gentleman…he was just one of a kind. It is truly a loss to Muskegon. My prayers are with you, his friends and his family. God Bless all of you and help you through this journey.

Fondly,

Janet Walker