Obituary of Steven Mark Page

Steven Mark Page died in Spokane, Washington on January 11, 2008. He’s been promoted to Glory and a Celebration of Life will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, 26418 Mountain Highway, Spanaway, Washington on January 19th at 2:30 p.m. Steve was born in Luverne, Minnesota to John (Jack) D. & Marilyn Shelby Page. He grew up in Seattle/Tacoma, where he attended Christiansen Elementary and Keithley Junior High Schools before moving to Anchorage to live with his step father George Mullally prior to 10th grade. He graduated from West Anchorage High School where he played basketball for Coach Lee Sneddon, Sr. Local sports writer Steve Agababa wrote of Steve Page, “We all have or own ideas about the best basketball player of all time; Lew Alcindor, Bob Cousey, Wilt Chamberlain - but never in my life have I seen one man keep a gym full of people totally spellbound with his shooting ability alone.” Steve was a three-year starter and averaged more than 30 points a game his senior year – before the invention of the three-point line. In the early 1970’s, it was unheard of for Alaska athletes to even be known Outside, let alone be recruited. Steve was named by Washington State University coach Marv Harshman and his staff as the “Most Valuable Player” at the Cougar Cage Camp for outstanding high school players in the Northwest. Alaska Senator Mike Gravel recommended him to West Point, and he had basketball scholarship offers to Oklahoma State and Baylor. To stay closer to his Mom, he played for Dean Nicholson’s Central Washington University Wildcats and led his team to three NAIA national championship tournaments. Steve worked for two years as a Local #341 laborer on Trans Alaska Pipeline construction in the mid seventies. After graduation from Central, he worked for Proctor Sales Inc. in Anchorage, Seattle and Spokane. His friends and family remember him as a great guy with a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. He was a voracious reader whose interests ranged from political biographies to Stephen King novels. He was a loyal and sometimes stubborn man who will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege to know him. Steve leaves his grown children Mathew and Carly Page and their mother Susan of Seattle, his brother Jay Page and family of Anchorage, and his sister Michele Aleksy and family of Roy, Washington. He was preceded in death by his step-father George Mullally, mother Marilyn Mullally Page, step-sister Mary Mullally, and father John Page. He didn’t travel back to Alaska often, but treasured those friends. In lieu of flowers or donations, Steve would wish you to take care of the ones you love.