To family and friends: It is with great sadness that I convey the passing of my father, Dr. Stephen Casanova. Born November 29, 1949 and died January 22, 2009. For those of you that didn't know him, he is survived by his two sons; Amado Geronimo Casanova 20, and me, Stephen Richard Casanova 22. My father was a professor at St. Cloud State University, where he served as a student advisor of M.E.Ch.A. and developed the Chicano Studies Program. As an activist he was involved with "El Movimiento" in many different ways throughout his entire life. He was a Sundancer, spiritual guide and mentor for many. He was also a council member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation. This blog was created for people to write their fondest memories of my dad so that my brother and I may know more details of his life. If you have any memories, pictures, poems, and or prayers that you would like to share please do so. I know that my brother and I would greatly appreciate your input. We will be checking this page daily and I will be adding more pictures of my father as soon as I get them on the computer. Thank you for all your love and support.
At Sun Dance, I use to call you 'little Steve'. Your dad met so much to me. There were many times at the dance, that no matter how much he hurt or how bad he felt, he was always there for us, rubbing our backs, or our legs, what ever he could do to helps. that was what he was about.
ReplyDeleteI never got to spend time with his, away from the dance, but in that week, every year, I think I got to know what may him tick.
I pray that he has a good journey and he lives in our hearts for as lomg as we are here.
Amd I know he was proud of both of you guys.
Stay strong and I love and miss you both.
Mikey
Sorry for not editing my comments. I was to busy crying!
ReplyDeleteHello Steve and Amado,
ReplyDeleteYou have our deepest sympathies, this loss is very difficult to deal with and we will keep you both in our thoughts and prayers. This all seems so sudden, it has not really sunk in with me yet but I already miss him. Sharyn and myself have had alot of great times with Steve, from Europe to swimming in the lake to making tamales, it was all great. I have a great deal of respect for Steve, he is of the most honerable and kind men I have ever known. I will go through our photos and post some, I know I have alot of Steve.
If I can be of any help at all, please let me know, both me and Sharyn will do anything we can to help.
Chris & Sharyn
There aren't words to express the sorrow we're feeling here, in Madison. We had a gathering Sunday morning to grieve and to share an honorary meal with Steve. 15 of us were all numb to this loss because it just didn't seem possible. Of course, we knew in our heads that he's gone but he still vibrates within our hearts. It's there that he'll live on...
ReplyDeleteSunday was the 4th day so around midday, before we ate, we shared what we felt in our hearts and then smoked the Sundance pipe together, putting out that smoke to the 4 winds to carry our positive thoughts/prayers to the world. Farewell, my brother!
(That last post was from Gene but we had to use my account so it shows my name.)
ReplyDeleteHe was such a kind soul, an amazing spirit and beautiful person. I am so proud to call you my UNCLE STEVE...
ReplyDeleteI love you and I will miss you!
Heart Breakers
ReplyDeleteWhen we were younger and went to school together at Holmes High
We saw life at Mr. Pizza on Bandera Rd.
So different, we lived to learn to dance and keep up with the
Latest steps and to adopt the name Steve gave us
We were the Heart Breakers one and all.
Our friendship unbreakable and ever lasting
Then came the real world of work and the changes of time.
Some of us sought improvement through education, some saw the
Call of duty to our nation, so we to Vietnam and to Germany went.
We were Heart Breakers one and all.
We kept in touch even if we did'nt see each other that often
We all got married had our children and lost track of time.
The lessons of our youth behind us, the happy times at
Mr. Pizza faded our friendship lost with the demands of our lives.
We were Heart Breakers one and all.
So here we stand with our Friend, Brother and Husky
To say farewell and to celebrate life as it was at
Mr. Pizza on Bandera Rd. to never forget our small group of friends,
And to live our lives as I’m sure Steve
Would like, and to remain the
Heart Breakers one and all.
Steve Casanova was a mentor, spiritual leader, and family member for most of us students at St. Cloud State. Everyone will cherish all the good times we had in Steve's apt and house. With food, games, and laughter. His classes, where he shared knowledge about culture and shown most of us our way to recognizing our identity. His support, as we fought many battles on campus through M.E.Ch.A.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part Steve & his family were our family away from home. It was our sanction away from the chaos that most of us faced in St. Cloud. Thanks Stevie & Amado for taking us in! You two will always have us here.
We will never forget all the memories that accumulated over time. Who could forget the infamous "Chicken Monster", our times cooking the night before in the vahalla, Day of the Dead ceremonies, and many more.
You will be greatly missed and now its time for us to step up and continue to spread the knowledge that you have taught us.
Thanks for everything
Lucia
Thought I would post what I read at Steve's rosario in San Antonio and his memorial service in St. Clould:
ReplyDelete"Hi, my name is Dan and I’m one of Steve’s students. And I say I am one of his students because, although the last class I took with him was nearly five years ago, he continues to teach and guide me in various ways.
Unfortunately, Steve passed away before I was able to tell him what he means to me, and the impact he’s had on my life. When I found out that he was very ill, and perhaps in his last days, I began thinking about what I would say to him. And as I began to think about what I would say, I started recalling so many great memories of the time I spent with him. Pozole at his house, watching the fights with everyone, and all the classes we took from him.
Luckily enough, I had the opportunity to travel with Steve on many class trips throughout Mexico. Most recently, we spent three weeks in Chihuahua and Sinaloa with a group of students this past summer. Not only were these trips great learning experiences, but they make up some of the greatest memories I have. Steve, I’ll never forget riding on horseback up to El Quemado in Real de Catorce, or sitting in Las Margaritas listening to Santana on your old tape deck in the middle of a desert rain. Or who could forget being in La Huasteca watching the swallows and parrots dive into that massive sinkhole at dusk. Or how about when you missed the train in Chihuahua this summer and had to meet us three stops down. However the best memory I have was during what would be our last trip together, hiking into the valley of the monks in Chihuahua, and spending what seemed like hours discussing the rock formations and listening to you tell stories. That moment was indescribable, and something I’ll never forget. It almost seemed surreal.
Steve has had a great impact on who I am today and the path that I’ve taken in my life. He taught me a lot about Chicanismo, and the undeniable connections between various indigenous peoples of the Americas. I cannot even begin to describe how much I have learned from Steve. Steve not only impacted my life in a positive way, but also the lives of many of his students. It is amazing to think that so many of his students not only graduated from college but went on to work toward and receive advanced degrees.
Steve was one of the kindest, most patient, and encouraging people I’ve ever met. He made great sacrifices in his personal life for his students, and we are forever indebted to him for that.
And although I wasn’t able to tell him these things, or say goodbye, I know he knew what he meant to me and to his students. The Chicano community has lost a great leader, elder, teacher, role model, and friend. However, his legacy will live on through his students, and his sons. Steve will always be with us.
I’d just like to end by telling Steve what I told him in Phoenix just after he passed away. Thanks for everything, Steve, and I love you."
Here is the poem I wrote and read at the funeral.
ReplyDeleteBilbo Baggins Casanova: Here, there and back again... by Andrea-Teresa "Tess" Arenas, Madison, Wi
Hijo de Mary Espiritu y Amado AKA Amos
Carried on the family tradition of community activism
MAYO, La Raza Unida
muchas actividades y anos mas
Organizing, agitating, debilitating Chingon
Hard core
with a gentile touch
More power than a double shot of mescal
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound
Super Chicano Super Chingon
WISCONSIN
Aztlan is where you are standin
The struggles come to the Midwest Compean and
Casanova style
They were Big Chingon
and Little Chingon
led us through bureaucracy
to create a renewed university
set the standard for La Causa
at a Land Grant campus
Chicano Studies blossoms, Ethnic Studies required
Strategic Plans created
Meanwhile, his Tejano Spanglish crept into my
vocabulary
He taught me the difference between "Oreo Wrapper" and "Orale Raza!"
And somewhere in between
He became my brother El Mas Chingon
MINNESOTA
Damn dissertation is done!
Diligent father to "The Boys"
Tenured scholar
Indigeous lynch pin
Frontera tour guide
Yet another cold Midwest city
Reels from his demands
Students in awe
Sons in transition
He starts writing his Tex-Mex Indegenous Organic Whole Foods with Zero Cholesterol
and No Fat Cookbook
heavy on the garlic....light on the cilantro.
SUNDANCE
Spiritual leader
Vibrant participant
20 some years of ceremonies
for only the most genuine among us
his annual summer caravan
that he planned a year in advance
Head Man Dancer
his Pipe Song broke your eardrums
and he knew it
So, he sang even louder
just in case we didn't catch
his first verse.
ARIZONA
In preparation for the move
healings and limpeas
performed by Delia, Steve and Amado
Steve said "he never felt such love before"
"blazing sunsets
mountains
saguarios
will be my anchors
through the Chemo
Linda will support me through it all" Steve
defiantly declared.
With less than a month to live
He viewed hospice as his
Time to tie things up
I blinked and he was gasping
I choked and he was gone
I fell to my knees......... I need more time
we all need more time
it didn't matter.
TEJAS UN OTRA VEZ
We huddle close
Using each others arms and backs for stability
Crunching Kleenex and handkershiefs into tiny
wads of wet
We are the Viejo compadres y commadres
Sending him off
Saying "good byes"
Rememberin some incidents
misrememberin others
Tellin stories forgetting stories
wishing there was time for more stories
Kiss the tierra
Lift your eyes to the Sky
Whisper your farewells
Celebrate his birthday
Add him to your ofrenda on Nov. 1
Leave him
blue corn tortillas
Dos Equis pollo
atole.
copyright 2009