I knew Steve through Michelle Vanucci.  ( I hope I spelled that right).   Michelle met Steve when she was 17.  So young!  But she was smitten by Steve!   She had the biggest crush on him!  Michelle and I would go out on Friday and or Saturday nights.  We spent most of our time looking for Steven.... cuz Michelle had to see him!  😂 Lol!

I spent the night at Bonka and grandma’s house often. He would take us to Subway or get pizza. One thing we could count on (with all the love) is Slim Jims. He always made sure he had a Slim Jim for each of us. 

Steve liked muscle cars and hot rods as much as I do. Loved the power and styling of this 1968 Firebird that I bought from Steve as my first car.

We remember Steve enjoying the outdoors and animals too.
We had several fun camping trips. This trip was at Lake Hemet where we rented a boat. We had a great day on the boat. We saw a herd of deer on the shore and an American bald eagle flew over our heads.

I met Steve when I was only 17. He was 19. I was driving a friend of mine home. He and a friend were in the car in the lane next to us. We exchanged some glances and smiles. My friend said that she recognized his friend from the high school she attended. I assumed they were harmless, so when they asked us to pull over, I did. We talked for a while. Actually, his friend did most of the talking. Steve was very quiet. When it came time for them to leave, I was expecting, his friend to ask for my phone number, but instead, to my surprise, Steve did. I wasn’t quite sure if I was interested in him. He was not the kind of guy I was typically attracted to. But there was something about him that caught my interest. A couple of days later we had our first date. We went to the La Habra drive in and saw the movie “The Exorcist.” Neither one of us talked much. But, during the intermission, we went to the snack bar. He put his arm around me, and it just fit. I felt like I had known him all my life. I felt comfortable, warm, and safe. From that moment on, I knew it was in his arms I belonged. This was the beginning of our 44-year relationship. We literally grew up together. He made me the strong person I am today.

I will never forget all of the times my cousins/brothers and I would stay up until all hours of the night waiting for our Bonka to return from work. He always brought us little treats and one night he walked in the house and told me “Hey Ashlyn, I got you a new boyfriend.” What he actually had was the gas stations “slim Jims” except he called them Fat Bobbies (hence the boyfriend joke). 

My dad was an adventurous person at heart who loved the great outdoors and excitement of a roller coaster. I have many memories of camping and nighttime fires at home or the beach. One time on a camping trip with him, my brother, uncle and cousin he clanged horseshoes together during a game. Next thing we know cows started to appear. That was the first time I saw cows in the mountains. During that same trip he took us to a natural water slide. You slid down a rock and landed in a very deep pool. Though I don’t go on them anymore, I was his rider when it came to roller coasters. Only once did I (and my mom) ask to get off in the middle of one. For my 18th birthday he took me bungee jumping. During my dating years and even now when I got hurt he would ask “do you want me to ‘take care’ of the guy”. There is so much more I could share but there’s not enough room. He is missed but not far from my heart and thoughts. 

OBITUARY

Steven Robert Reilly

March 9, 1955 – November 13, 2018

Mt. View Mortuary & Cemetery

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