Michael Edward Stephens

Michael E. Stephens, the founder of Lakeshore Foundation and a champion for those with physical disabilities, passed away on July 1, 2017 at the age of 73. He made his home in Indian Springs, Alabama, and Naples, Florida. Born in Selma, Alabama, Mr. Stephens moved to Birmingham in 1946. In 1970 he suffered a spinal cord injury from a diving accident. Although at the time he had already begun a successful career in the publishing industry, that injury, and the grueling recovery process, changed the focus of Stephens's life and ultimately had a profound impact on his personal, professional, civic and philanthropic activities. After intensive rehabilitation during which he learned to walk again, he returned to the University of Montevallo in 1973 to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. He then went on to earn a Masters of Science Degree from the School of Health Professions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mr. Stephens became executive director of Lakeshore Hospital in 1975 when it was still a small rehabilitation facility. Based on his experience during rehabilitation he was determined to eliminate the fragmentation of services that often hampered the recovery of people with physical disabilities. During the next decade, he transformed Lakeshore Hospital into what Forbes magazine called "… a model laboratory for his ideas about rehabilitation. " It was his creation of a disabled sports program at Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital which ultimately developed into the founding of Lakeshore Foundation in 1984. Mr. Stephens' progress with Lakeshore Hospital led to his founding of ReLife in 1986. As president and CEO, he guided the organization to national prominence as an effective, comprehensive rehabilitation system. At the time that ReLife merged with HealthSouth Corporation in 1994 the company had 46 rehabilitation facilities located in 12 states. Mr. Stephens' passion, the Lakeshore Foundation, is internationally known as a model organization for providing sports, recreation, fitness and research programs for those with physical disabilities. Because of this success, it was designated as an official US Olympic and Paralympic training site. Mr. Stephens viewed every individual helped by Lakeshore Foundation as a product not only of Lakeshore's progressive programs but also of its supportive environment – "the spirit of Lakeshore" – to which he made frequent reference. In a 2013 book written about Lakeshore Foundation, Mr. Stephens wrote these words: "I thank my God for using me as His crusader for the implementation of Lakeshore's mission. To see the international rehabilitation paradigm completely change for the positive during the course of my career has been fulfilling. Further, to see the dramatic impact that Lakeshore Foundation has made and continues to make on that rehabilitation paradigm and on human life is both humbling and a source of great pride to me." Mr. Stephens served as a member of Lakeshore Foundation's board of directors until his death. Among the many honors and awards he received are the following: Lakeshore Foundation's Sington Soaring Spirit Trophy, 1992; Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Montevallo, May 1995; in 1997 honored once again by the University of Montevallo, as that university rededicated its College of Business as the Michael E. Stephens College of Business; recognized as Distinguished Alumnus, University of Alabama at Birmingham, December 2002; Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, May 2002; named Distinguished Alabama Sportsman, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2006; and inducted into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame, 2014. Mr. Stephens was significantly involved with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), serving as a trustee, a member of its Leadership Council and a member of the USOC Chairmans Circle. For many, Mike Stephens, became the role model, encourager, and inspiration for significant life changes. His wife, Allison, who he often called "My Angel", gave him a music box one year for his birthday. The music box played "The Wind Beneath My Wings"; on the inside, the inscription read "Mike, your life, your love and your friendship are special gifts, treasured by me and countless others. Thank you for providing the 'wind.' " Following his death, she said, "now Mike will forever be My Angel." Mr. Stephens was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Edward Stephens and Virginia Elizabeth Keadle"Gee Gee" Stephens, and by a sister, Vivian Elaine Stephens. He is survived by his wife, Allison Morrow Stephens, a sister, Carlynn Stephens Brandon and her husband, Fred Young; a nephew, Robert Young Brandon, and his wife, Leslie Anne; a niece, Laura Lynne Stuart, and her husband, Mark Alan, and their children, Jacob Brandon Stuart and Shelby Caroline Stuart, all of Lexington, Kentucky; several cousins; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, William Wilson Morrow and Linda Oler Morrow of Tuscaloosa. Also very much a part of his life have been dear friend and business manager Rhonda Hoggle and her husband Pat,Indian Springs; friends and companions Jerry Hillis of Indian Springs and Frank Moultrie of Birmingham; and his and Allison's cherished pets- Tucker, Murphy, and Delta Dawn. On Friday, July 7, the family will receive visitors between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Southern Heritage Chapel, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, in Pelham. A memorial service will follow at the chapel at 3:30 p.m. Private graveside services and burial will take place earlier on Friday, at 11 a.m., at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park in Tuscaloosa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the UAB/Lakeshore Research Collaborative, in care of Lakeshore Foundation, 4000 Ridgeway Drive, Homewood, AL, 35209, or to YWCA Central Alabama at 309 23rd Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203.