From Peter Olesker

My fondest memory of Steve occurred in late 2005 when I worked closely with Steve to publicize the auction of a home in the Hyde Park/Kenwood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. The home had beautiful architectural features and an interesting history, and we were able to get a lot of media coverage for the auction. The auction, which took place in an auditorium on South Michigan Avenue, went very well. The room was packed, the bidding was heated and the home sold for well above reserve. Steve – as always – was very excited. As I was preparing to head home for the night, Steve asked me if I wanted to join him for dinner. It had been a long day, I was tired and I had a baby boy at home, but who can say “No” to Steve Good? Dinner was at Morton’s on State, but Steve wanted to go back to the office to pick up his car. We were something like 300 S. on Michigan and Steve’s office is at 333 W. Wacker…about a mile and half away. It was absolutely FREEZING out…like below zero, but Steve wanted to walk. ‘Are you crazy?’ I thought, but, hey, Steve was the client, so I figured I better just go with it. So we set out on this 20-minute trek across the Loop. After about 3 minutes, I couldn’t feel my ears. But Steve was oblivious. It was like he was taking a stroll down the beach in Florida. He talked the whole way…about auctions, about his travel plans (fishing in some remote part of the world), a reality TV series he was trying to get off the ground, his kids, and a million other things – each topic more exciting to him than the next. Finally, we got to his car and drove to meet Jami, Wally Wolff and a couple of others. At Morton’s, Steve was totally in his element…the old school steakhouse, the martinis and cigars. The evening was one war story after another, going back before my time, but Steve made me feel totally at home. He was such a gracious host. The evening wrapped up close to midnight and I was exhausted. But Steve showed no signs of slowing down. The night was vintage Steve Good. Who has time to worry about the freezing cold, who has time to be tired, when there so much going on in the world around you…new deals to make, new ventures to explore, new friends to meet and people to talk to, memories to share, fish to catch, fine cigars to enjoy? That’s living. And I’m grateful that on a bitter-cold Chicago winter night, Steve dragged me out into his world to share his good humor, generosity and endless enthusiasm. Thanks, Steve.

Peter Olesker
Taylor Johnson & Olesker