WILLIAM STEPHEN JACKSON II

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“Steve,” to his American friends, and “William,” to his international friends, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on September 30, 2021.  Steve had a passion for living and a healthy dose of skepticism for conventional wisdom and conformity.  He was a loving husband, caring brother and son, the funniest person imaginable, and a master of all trades.  Although his death is a tragedy and his time with us was cut short, Steve accumulated enough unique and amazing experiences in his forty-four years to fill three normal lifetimes. 

Steve was born on May 9th, 1977, in Anchorage, Alaska, and was the second son of Steve and Rosalind Jackson. His eldest brother, Roger, passed in 2015.  He is survived by his wife, Andy, his younger siblings, Alex and Juliette, and his father, Steve. He moved to Danville, California, with his family at the age of four and later lived in Farmington, New Mexico, Tempe, Arizona, Reno, Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seoul, South Korea, and Lima, Peru.  He attended St. Isidore Catholic School for grades K-8, De La Salle Christian Brothers High School in Concord, California, for his freshman through junior years, and spent his senior year at Farmington High School in New Mexico.  Steve graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and later earned a Master of Teaching English as a Second Language at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu.

With his handsome, welcoming smile, laid back style, and sharp wit, Steve made fast friends wherever he lived or traveled.  Everyone who knew Steve has a favorite “Steve” story that they would be happy to share – although they would probably be unable to finish the story without laughing uncontrollably before the end.

Often described as a "Citizen of the World,” Steve traveled to six of the seven continents, dozens of countries, and spoke three languages: English, Spanish, and Italian. In each destination Steve lived, he embraced the local cuisine, culture, and community.  An avid fisherman, he would fish for hours on end and had an innate ability to catch fish when those around him were empty handed.  Steve was also an excellent amateur chef. He began developing his culinary skills as a senior in high school by helping his mother prepare family meals and continued expanding his horizons by learning to prepare, cook, and enjoy foods of the world in each country he visited.

Steve had many talents including being an active writer, blogger and videographer, salesman and successful private business owner. However, his greatest gift was being a truly engaging and talented educator …just like his wonderful mother.  Steve taught English in multiple countries to hundreds of children.  Everywhere he taught he was loved and adored by his students, as well as their parents,

In 2013, while Steve was living in Peru, he met and fell in love with Andy Cano Agramonte.  A mutual friend introduced them and to say there were immediate fireworks would have been an understatement. Sadly, life temporarily delayed their budding romance.  In a selfless act of kindness for his family, Steve and Andy put their relationship on hold while Steve returned to the US to help his brother, Roger, who had been disabled with brain cancer. Steve remained by his side for a year and a half until Roger passed away. Time and distance only strengthened Steve and Andy’s love for one another. Together they shared a zest for life which culminated and was on full display during their beautiful wedding in Lima, Peru, followed by a joyous reception at La Rosa Nautica where people danced and sang until three in the morning!  Andy fondly calls her love by his formal name "William" on occasion, but more commonly "Guapo" or "Precioso."   

Despite the shock and fear a pancreatic cancer diagnosis brings, Steve fought a relentlessly optimistic battle.  The cancer may have damaged his body, but not his beautiful soul.  Steve was surrounded by his family and loving wife during his final days. We sat by his side, sharing stories and recollecting the beautiful life he lived in his all too short forty-four years. 

To have known Steve…
Was to love him.