Gone too Soon
Stephen Denison
Stephen was a unique person and lovely friend. First, he was adventurous at 74 - he had just returned from a stint on tall ship Europa where he sailed as a deck hand for almost a month in Europe. Make no mistake, he was a real deck hand, not just a guest who sat on deck! Stephen climbed the rigging in the storms and hauled on the lines with the rest of the crew. This was a second trip for Stephen as he had sailed aboard some 20+ years ago. He told me, he “just had to go back again, it was on his bucket list.” Sailing on tall ships at any age is not for the faint of heart; your body is tested daily and sometimes, moment to moment. If you were a leader on land, this was a rekoning with self as you were just a cog in a wheel here on board. You see, I too have been a deck hand on a tall ship. It was the most exhilarating and trying experience of my life, but it also taught me so much about myself and even the limitations I thought I had, but learned I didn’t. I didn’t get a chance to ask Stephen if his experience mirrored my own, but I do know we shared a passion for tall ships. I admired Stephen for his bravery and tenacity in returning at 74 to test himself.
Stephen was vociferously excited about helping with the launch of Ocean Alliances and so believed in it’s worth and mission.
He was not just a tall ship sailor, he was also a sailor of small boats, a rower, a cyclist, a Rotarian, a volunteer, a church deacon, a chef and a caterer to name a few of his talents and skills. He was just a quietly cool dude. Not that he did not have opinions as he voiced his vociferously and regularly, but he accepted everyone he encountered as they were, even if they did not share his values. Just one more admirable trait of his.
Stephen will be missed by so many!
OBITUARY
Stephen W. Denison, 74, of Sausalito CA, died December 17, 2025 of a cardiac event. He was born in 1951 to Shirley and Raymond Denison in Long Island, NY and raised in Michigan and Northern Virginia.
After high school he worked three seasons as a deck hand on Great Lakes freighters that transported coal, iron ore, and limestone from Duluth to many steel producing ports in the Great Lakes including Detroit and Chicago. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY then headed to San Francisco in his classic VW bus. He worked for Hyatt in San Francisco then had a 35 year career with Dan McCalls Catering and Events. Steve was one of the founding members of the management team that built the company into the successful Premier institution it is today. He began as Director of Marketing, then President, and finally Consulting Director. During his years with McCalls Steve excelled in developing a large list of loyal clients who loved working with him. He planned and oversaw the catering of thousands of corporate and social events in Northern California. While he specialized in corporate parties of 500-10,000 (yes, ten thousand!) people he also handled many of San Francisco’s signature galas including the Symphony, Ballet, Opera, Fall Antiques Show, Black and White Ball and many more. He later developed McCall’s consulting arm providing catering planning services for corporations around the United States.
An avid world traveler and sailor, he recently crewed twice on the tall ship Barque Europa around Portugal, France, the Mediterranean and Antarctica. Over the years he owned several sailboats and a classic wooden cruiser the Margarita.
Stephen was active in his retirement in the local Marin community, serving on the Rotary, volunteered weekly at the Food Bank at Canal Alliance, rowed daily at Open Water Rowing in Sausalito and helped with local sailing organizations. He was a member and a Deacon at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon. He was supportive of social justice issues including gun control, homelessness, human trafficking, immigration and caring for others in need.
Tall in height (6’4″) and in personality, he will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Stephen is survived by his sister Rae Denison (Michigan), brother Gene Denison (Michigan), brother Andrew Denison (Northern Virginia), niece Anna Bosin (Alaska), grand niece Rae Bosin(Alaska), nephew Andrew Saavedra (Northern Virginia), and his dear sweet love Barbara Rowe (Mill Valley), and long, long time best friend Michael Wolf (New York City).
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday January 24, 2026 at 11 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church 240 Tiburon Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Canal Alliance, 711 Grand Ave, San Rafael 90901 or to Westminster Presbyterian Church.