Steven was born in Peekskil, New York to parents Shirley and Saul Grossman. His brothers and sister Mickey, Sandy and Phyllis along with his parents moved to Plantation, Florida when Steven was a teenager. As a graduate of Plantation High School he studied art at Pratt Institute in New York City, Northwestern University in Chicago and the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Steven worked as a graphic artist at the Coconut Grove Theater and The Weekly News.
He studied mental health at Florida International University and Barry University in Miami leading to a career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist. He practiced at Jewish Community Services, Health Crisis Network and Life Skills in south Florida until he entered private practice.
His husband Richard Lavine of 37 years in Asheville, North Carolina survives Steven. The two rarely spent any time apart from each other whether they lived in south Florida or Asheville where they legally married.
Steven battled leukemia for 2 1/2 years until he succumbed to the illness on January 9, 2021. His mother, father, brother and sister precede him in death.