In Memorium of the World's Greatest Barista: Steve Kelly

Who knew dying was so expensive?

On March 3rd, 2025, I got the horrifying news that one of my best friends had died unexpectedly. I am still struggling with disbelief; I find myself constantly thinking of things that I need to tell Steve- only to be crushed anew by the reality that I can never talk to him again.

Steven Paul Kelly was a wholly unique person who had a profound impact on so many lives. I met Steve in 2019 when I moved into the Acacia apartment building in Denver. Somehow, we gravitated to each other immediately, and became very close friends. I can't possibly sum up our friendship in words, but suffice to say that Steve was one of the only people I've ever met whom I could just be completely myself with.

From 2019 to 2024, I lived in that apartment building, and for the last 2 years I lived right next door to Steve and Quint. When I ultimately moved out last Summer, I was terrified by the idea of not living next to Steve anymore. We watched Suvivor on Wednesdays; we went to the ballet and musicals; we got dinner together and walked around the neighborhood playing Pokémon Go; we drank hot chocolate and watched garbage TV in the evenings. For the past 5 years, Steve has been the first person I tell when I'm struggling with my depression and suicidal ideation. And he was always there for me with compassion and understanding. My heart is broken from this loss, but I know Steve loved me so much, and he knew how much I loved him.

I work as a tattoo artist, and I tattooed Steve numerous times- including a tattoo of the phrase, "there's never a forever thing," which he requested be in my own handwriting. Those words and Steve's voice just keep ringing in my head now; his admission of his own mortality bringing me solace.

Now, I am doing my best to honour Steve by helping his husband Quint make arrangements for his cremation and memorial service. If you're able to contribute anything, it will go towards cremation costs, and putting on a memorial worthy of our friend Steve.

-Mikayla

Quint met Steve in June, 2010, and they moved in together almost immediately. In 2012, they got married in a Friday the 13th- so we decided that it was only fitting that we hold Steve's memorial service on Friday, June 13th. Quint is struggling to cope with the loss of his partner of the last 15 years, so me and some other friends are trying to help as much as possible.

Quint is now responsible for the cost of having Steve cremated (some of which should later be reimbursed by the VA), as well as holding a memorial service, and now paying for their bills single-handedly. The goal of this gofundme is just for Steve's friends and family to be able to contribute to giving Steve a deserving send-off.