Stephen Kile Straker

Stephen Kile Straker was born September 16th 1958, in New York City to Kile & Leotta Straker. He was the 3rd born of 3 sons. He grew up in a four floor, family apartment building, on Bristow street, in the Bronx, that was owned by his paternal Grandparents. He grew up in the building surrounded by family, which consisted of his grandparents, parents, brothers, aunts, and cousins. He first attended elementary school at P.S. (public school) 61; when bussing came along, he was bussed outside of his neighborhood to P.S. 47. When an elementary school was built two blocks away, he attended his last year of elementary school at that school, P.S. 134. After elementary school, he attended Junior high school 136, in The Bronx. He went on to attend Lehman high school from which he graduated. It was in Junior high school that he took an interest in roller skating, sports, music and bicycle riding. He became an avid New York Yankee baseball fan and an avid New York Knicks basketball fan. Stephen and his friends would often play softball and basketball against each other. At times, the neighborhood friends would band together and go outside of the neighborhood and play against other neighborhoods. While in junior high school, he also took an interest in learning to play the bass guitar. Stephen's father bought him his first bass guitar and Stephen's mother signed him up for music school. His mother, and his aunt Louise, affectionately known as Weasey, took turns taking him, and his brother David to music school. Also, while still in Junior high school, he became one of the founding members of a band. When Stephen became of age, he started working at summer day camps. He worked with the summer youth employment program. One summer, he saved enough money to purchase a ten speed bicycle. For that time, that was quite an accomplishment. He would go on many bike riding adventures throughout the Bronx and Manhatten with his neighborhood friends. They all once road their bicycles on a highway, they were promptly thrown off of the highway by the police. During his senior year at high school, he started working part time at Alexander’s department store. He continued working there after he graduated. He eventually saved up enough money to purchase a car. He looked up to his eldest brother, Peter. Being that Peter had a blue Dodge charger, Stephen purchased the more affordable Dodge challenger, also in blue. Stephen’s father was an Army vet, and Stephen’s brother Peter, became an Airforce vet. Stephen Joined the U.S.A.F. As his brother Peter had done. Stephen made the Airforce his career. He retired from the Airforce and ended his career in Las Vegas, he settled there just as his brother Peter had. He purchased his homes in Las Vegas, and lived there until his untimely death. Stephen was a member of the Elks, and of the American Legion. His friend, especially those in Las Vegas, remember him as a caring, loving, Kind, compassionate friend, that was loved by all.