Steven Jon Bless

NEWTON, Mass. — Steven Jon Bless, who raised his four children in Bristol, Vt., with Elizabeth (Liz) Shattuck and taught at Monkton Elementary School, passed away May 27, 2024, in Massachusetts.

Born in Iowa, he lived a life full of music, craftsmanship, sports, teaching and adventures with his family. Steve’s journey frequently included exploring the outdoors of Vermont, Arizona, the prairies of the Midwest and Washington. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved volunteering with conservation organizations and sharing his passion for nature with his family and friends.

Steve is survived by his sister, Rita Van Sickle, and her husband, Gene, of Clive, Iowa; and his children, Graham Bless, Eliot Bless, Meredith Bless Patten and Forrest Bless, along with their spouses and children.

In lieu of a formal memorial, the family requests that those wishing to remember Steve visit their favorite local, state, or national park and reflect on the beauty of the natural world he cherished. ◊