John "Jack" Steen

JOHN ALEXANDER STEEN, Jr., 58, of Dennisport, Massachusetts, passed away on the morning of December 10, 2007, after having fallen rapidly and succumbing to pneumonia. Jack was a long-time resident of Cape Cod, and lived for the past several years at the Clipper Lane House. Jack was born in Worcester, MA, and lived from childhood into early adulthood in Mariemont, Ohio, where he graduated from high school. He spent every summer of childhood and adolescence at his beloved island cabin in Lake Wentworth, Wolfeboro, NH, and returned every summer he was able to reconnect with the peace and security he felt there. Jack bore well his lifelong struggle with severe mental illness, and was understood by those he knew to be a gentle, gracious, kind, and generous person who never missed an opportunity to express gratitude for his life, even in the face of enduring hardship, disappointment or challenge. An accomplished musician, Jack embraced music for its healing, and he loved to play for others while he never stopped growing as a listener himself. He deeply valued friendship and family, and despite the little he had and how much he had lost, inspired us as he looked always to help others he saw as less fortunate. Jack is recalled by those who loved him for his sharp insight, his laughter and his consistent presence of grace and goodness, qualities he brought forth from his dedicated and loving parents, John and Olga Steen, who predeceased him and with whom he is now reunited. Jack is survived by his caring and loving sisters, Carol Akerley, Wolfeboro, N.H. and Patricia Steen, Little Silver, NJ, and his beloved nieces and nephews, Meredith Akerley, Concord, NH; Aaron Steen, Hong Kong; Samantha Akerley, Wolfeboro, NH; Julia Steen, Middlebury, VT; Max Steen, Little Silver, NJ; and Brandon Nault, Concord, NH. Funeral services will be held at Sansoucy Funeral Home, 40 Marcy Street, Southbridge, MA, on Saturday, December 15, at 11:30 a.m. with internment immediately afterwards. The family wishes to express its gratitude, on JackA¢A€A™s behalf, to the many doctors, professionals and workers, and to the Commonwealth, for their caring dedication; their efforts permitted Jack to live in dignity and peace. In lieu of flowers or other donations, the family requests that any donations be made in JackA¢A€A™s memory to Fellowship Health Resources, P. O. Box 576, Dennisport, MA, 02639. Inquiries may be directed to the Sansoucy Funeral Home, at www.sansoucyfuneral.com, or (508) 764 A¢A€A" 2567.

---

 Service Information