We take this time to celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Steve Fasteau, a CAPED founder and its first president. Steve passed away at the age of 72 on February 19, 2018..
Dr. Steve Fasteau was one of the original founders of CAPED. Elected as the temporary president of CAPED on October 8, 1974, he worked tirelessly to complete the CAPED By-Laws which were adopted later that same year. Dr. Fasteau was elected and served as CAPED’s first President from 1975- 1977. In his 35+year career, he worked at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Hospital, Cerritos College, and El Camino College. Steve organized the CAPED “Past President’s” Scholarship. Dr. Fasteau also served as the CAPED Convention Coordinator from 1978 – 1988. Steve never hesitated to share his knowledge and expertise to many CAPED leadership training and planning events. He will be greatly missed.
A pioneer for CAPED and a torchbearer for college students with disabilities: CAPED is greatly saddened by the passing of our colleague, friend, leader and one of our founders, Steve Fasteau, We will miss his astute wisdom, gentle humor and fearless leadership.
-Gwyn Tracy, CAPED President
There is no one moment with Steve that stands out for me above the others. I think that is because Steve was always willing to provide advice and mentoring, and that mentoring didn’t only happen once a year at the convention. Steve especially made his time and wisdom available for new CAPED presidents, including me. The most important concept Steve imparted to me, and one which I frequently repeat to others, is that your first task with CAPED is to find your replacement. We only survive based on people donating their time, so we need others to step up for CAPED to continue after we have individually moved on. Steve worked to sustain CAPED’s continuity decades after he was no longer a CAPED officer. He put his own advice into practice. I would say Steve cannot be replaced, but then he would be disappointed to hear me say that because it would mean CAPED wasn’t replacing their mentors. So I will only say he will be missed by me, and thousands of others. (And he really cannot be replaced. Sorry Steve.)
-Scott Hamilton
I remember Steve at the CAPED Executive Board’s Asilomar Conference Center Seminars in Monterrey in the 1980’s, getting us together for By-laws revisions. It was a time of rapid diversity of views, and the expansion of disabilities served. He conducted the meetings with a personable, steady hand, respectful and receptive to all to insure the revision work would produce the best outcome for service to students with disabilities. A pioneer for Disability Rights, he was never about himself. He was always about producing outcomes that served students with disabilities in a fair and just manner.
-Rick Scuderi
Steve has been my mentor and friend for more than 36 years. I owe him everything. He was a professional reference for my job at LBCC, he filled an interim TRiO job for me, and taught me about leadership, retirement, love of life, and even a little golf. CAPED was his baby and I became a child of CAPED because of Steve. He paved the way for generations of professionals. We are able to rise higher than ever before as we stand securely upon his shoulders and all of those who have come before us. Some of the many things he told me include:
- Find your replacement, don’t stay forever;
- Recognize your own value and be compensated accordingly;
- There will always be things that are left to do;
- RE: retirement “what are you waiting for?”
It’s just not fair. We had plans.
-Mark Matsui