Steve Halatyn — A Complicated Farewell

April 21, 2011  Age 55

Steve Halatyn passed away on April 21, 2011 at the age of 55. For some, his departure was seen as a relief — and I understand why. There were things I felt compelled to share with his wife at the time, Joyce, that weren’t exactly flattering. I won’t go into those details here, but those who were close to the situation will know what I’m referring to.

Life isn’t always tidy, and neither are the legacies people leave behind. But every chapter — even the difficult ones — deserves to be acknowledged

I met Steve in Denver, Colorado back in 1979, making him one of my longest-standing friendships. At the time, he was married to Joyce (now living in Tucson, Arizona), and the three of us were roommates for a while. That chapter ended after a bit of an… let’s say, inappropriate situation, which led me to pack up and move to California.

Despite the bumps, Steve and I shared some great creative moments. In 1989, we collaborated on comedy commercials that aired on KMJC in San Diego as part of “Wild Weekend,” a show I co-hosted with Jay B. Those were wild times — full of laughs, late nights, and radio magic.

When I first met Steve, he didn’t have many technical skills, but he could sing and play guitar at coffee houses, and he had a certain charm. Over time, he went back to school, became a technician, and eventually worked as a radio tower installer — a job that kept him busy and gave him purpose.

Steve passed away on October 26, 2020. He was a licensed ham radio operator — KB5KDX — and is now remembered as a Silent Key in the amateur radio community.

Rest in peace, Steve. You were part of a long, winding story — and your signal still echoes in the memories.