In Memory Of
Stephen Hawkins
1944
2015
Stephen Hawkins
September 14, 1944 — June 8, 2015
Stephen Randolph Hawkins was born September 14, 1944 in Michigan, but often spoke of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma as where he was from. His parents, Harold Hawkins and Dorothy Swanson Mondl, met and were married in Palm Beach, Florida. Steve—known as Randy to his family— roamed from San Diego to Columbus, Seattle to the Virgin Islands, but Lawrence, Kansas was truly his heart home.
In his youth, Steve was an avid Boy Scout and a champion swimmer—noted for his Butterfly stroke. He joined the hippie movement in the 1960s and played folk tunes and Dylan on his Martin guitar. In his challenges to live with mental illness, he was cared for at Menningers, where he met the love of his life, Alice Davis, in 1962. They married in 1969 and tried to start a commune in Freedom, California, but the call of the Jayhawks was too strong, and they returned to Lawrence later that year. Two children came from that marriage; Jaina Bee and Ellen Mills. After the divorce, Steve remained a bachelor for the rest of his life. He spoke fondly of living by the river in a homeless camp, and also found comfort at the Salvation Army, the Lawrence Community Shelter, and finally at Vermont Towers. He was often seen riding his bike to the library, where he continued his ongoing self-education in French, mathematics, history and other passions. Countless hours of tall tales and intellectual debate went down with his pals at Einstein Bros Bagels. Every day he wrote a story, usually at one of his three beloved typewriters. After 40 years of separation, his daughter, Jaina Bee, relocated him and the reunion made his last years joyful.
Steve passed peacefully in his home on Monday June 8th, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Dorothy, his daughter, Ellen, and by his little brother, Toby. He is survived by his daughter, Jaina Bee of San Francisco, California and his half-brother, Steve Mondl, of Barberton, Ohio. His final resting place will be next to Alice and Ellen at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery in Topeka, KS. Donations in his name may be made to The Lawrence Community Shelter.
In his youth, Steve was an avid Boy Scout and a champion swimmer—noted for his Butterfly stroke. He joined the hippie movement in the 1960s and played folk tunes and Dylan on his Martin guitar. In his challenges to live with mental illness, he was cared for at Menningers, where he met the love of his life, Alice Davis, in 1962. They married in 1969 and tried to start a commune in Freedom, California, but the call of the Jayhawks was too strong, and they returned to Lawrence later that year. Two children came from that marriage; Jaina Bee and Ellen Mills. After the divorce, Steve remained a bachelor for the rest of his life. He spoke fondly of living by the river in a homeless camp, and also found comfort at the Salvation Army, the Lawrence Community Shelter, and finally at Vermont Towers. He was often seen riding his bike to the library, where he continued his ongoing self-education in French, mathematics, history and other passions. Countless hours of tall tales and intellectual debate went down with his pals at Einstein Bros Bagels. Every day he wrote a story, usually at one of his three beloved typewriters. After 40 years of separation, his daughter, Jaina Bee, relocated him and the reunion made his last years joyful.
Steve passed peacefully in his home on Monday June 8th, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Dorothy, his daughter, Ellen, and by his little brother, Toby. He is survived by his daughter, Jaina Bee of San Francisco, California and his half-brother, Steve Mondl, of Barberton, Ohio. His final resting place will be next to Alice and Ellen at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery in Topeka, KS. Donations in his name may be made to The Lawrence Community Shelter.
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