Stephen L. Gage

Dr. Stephen L. Gage, 66 of Chrisman, Illinois, passed away at 9:43 p.m. Sunday, February 5, 2023 at I.U. Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a University Director of Bands and Orchestra.

He was born July 10, 1956 in Warsaw, New York, the son of the late Rollin Gage and the late Carol (Mandeville) Gage Brown. He married Stephanie Samford August 3, 1991 at the Kidley Church in Kidley, Illinois and she survives.

Other survivors include three children, Matthew Stephen Gage of Austin, Texas, Claudia Janette Gage of Bloomington, Indiana, and Brendan Royce Gage of Chrisman; one brother Kenneth (Lynne) Gage of Greece, New York, and one granddaughter Zoey Lynette Gage of Austin, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step father Oliver Brown, and two brothers, Robert Gage and Randall Gage.

Steve earned a Doctor of Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Steve most recently served as Interim Director of Bands at Indiana State University, School of Music (IN). He previously served as Director of Bands and Orchestra at Youngstown State University (OH) for 28 years. While in Youngstown, he also conducted the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra and the W. D. Packard Concert Band in Warren. Prior to that, he served as Director of Bands & Orchestra at Emporia State University (KS) and as Director of Bands at Auburn High School (NY).

Steve was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 1999. He was also a member of the National Bandmasters Association and the Ohio Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Auburn High School (NY) Music Hall of Fame. He recently served on the Board of Directors of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra (IN), the Paris Fine Arts Center (IL), and the Pinnacle Winds (MO).

Steve enjoyed meeting students and music directors and worked to create lasting relationships with them spending hours communicating with them on social media and through texts. Steve was not only passionate about music, students, and his work, but he was an avid Buffalo Bills and LA Dodgers fan often mixing his fan gear. He loved coffee, and donuts were his breakfast of choice. Steve loved his family and was a proud father reveling in the accomplishments of his children. His faith was an important part of his life and he shared that with many people simply in the way he approached life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Stephen’s name to the Youngstown State University Foundation or the Indiana State University Foundation.

Youngstown State University Foundation, 655 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio 44502. Online at ysufoundation.org by clicking “Give Now”.

Indiana State University Foundation, 30 North 5th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809.

Online at https://givetoindianastate.org/

SERVICE INFORMATION

A memorial service celebrating his life was conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. February 11, 2023, at Templeton Funeral Home in Paris. Tim Botner and John Ellis officiated, and music was provided by Brendan and Matt Gage, Angela Reynolds, and Martha Krasnican. Visitation was from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Private graveside services were conducted on Monday, February 13, 2023, at Friends Chapel Cemetery near Scottland, Illinois. A memorial concert in honor of Steve will be held at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, Ohio on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Please consider sharing a memory, photo, or condolence with Stephen’s family on his Tribute Wall at www.TempletonFuneralHome.com.