REMEMBERING ETIENNE

 by Rose_Blossom
 

"Love is like falling out of a window ... the freefall is wonderful... but the landing sucks"

(Etienne, a.k.a., Steven Arnold)

 

Some of you knew him from Pulse Radio, the radio station where he worked diligently as a disc jockey, and there are a few who still remember his crazy antics in The Sims Online, while still others knew him when he played in Final Fantasy, and other worlds, sharing with everyone, his good nature, his ever-present humor and his love of life and fondness of a good game! 

The HUMAN-person I am referring to is Steven A. Arnold II.  The AVIE-person that you may remember in our world is Etienne.  Perhaps you knew him as Nevets in Final Fantasy.  On March 10^th, there was an announcement in the Official Forums that Steven Arnold, a.k.a., Etienne, passed away, on March 1^st, at the very young age of 27, in his home town of Cleveland, Ohio.  Many in the community were shocked and saddened at the suddenness of his passing, and the young age (27) he was.  Everyone who knew him, everyone he touched, will miss him dearly. 

Steven Arnold, spawned in There on January 12, 2003.  He penned in his profile, “I'm the coolest guy on my block... then again I'm the only guy on my block... maybe that should tell me something :)”   

Recently, there was a memorial service held in his honor, and many of his close friends, and also some who didn’t know him so well, attended.  xoJillxo, told me some wonderful things about her friend, Steven, and shared some of her precious pictures of him in The Sims Online 

I met Steven in January 2001.  He was at my house in TSO playing the game. The thing that stood out about him was that he was a true gentleman. 

His favorite thing to do in TSO and THERE was to take care of his friends that lived with him. I heard that there were stations to actually DJ for in THERE and TSO and I told him about it, and he immediately he wanted to join. He did, he joined SimKast which he then followed to Pulse, KHTR and Rush Hour for a short period of time. DJ’ing was a passion of Steven's and it showed in his shows. He loved playing Final Fantasy Online. 

There is so much of him that made him his best but his best all time trait was how passionate he was about things in his life. If Steven believed in something, you were going to know about it. 

My most precious moment with him was our first 3 hour long conversation nonstop, which is also my most humorous moment with him. 

Another good friend, beccaratliff19, or “Becca,” shared her memories of Etienne with us.   

I met Steven when I started at Pulse Radio. Even after we both left though, we remained Real Life friends.  He was really goofy but you had an instant positive feeling around him. Not matter what your day was going like, he always knew exactly what to say to make you feel better.   

Besides the obvious with DJ’ing, he hung around at a lot of events and really liked talking to everyone. After he left there, he was a Final Fantasy kind of guy. *Shakes Head* If I had a nickel for every time he asked me to join that game... 

Definitely, his personality. I was lucky enough to meet him in Real Life when I flew out to see him for a weekend. And the same Steven everyone knew from his voice in game is the exact same happy go lucky Steven face to face. Even sillier in person! 

The last night I stayed in Ohio, Steven, his wonderful wife Eileen, and I sat around and just talked all night long about different things like where we wanted to be in 20 years or family stuff. Just sharing our dreams and feelings..it was so real and so nice, it was my favorite part of the trip. That, and finally getting a great big hug after all the months and months of talking on the phone and in game. It really is special when you can share a hug with someone who has brought you so much comfort in your life.  

I talked to his wife a night or so after we all found out and gave her our deepest sympathies. She emailed me a web page that has a guestbook for Steven, as well as poems that we're read in his honor. I would like as many people as possible to see it. 

http://www.donteague.com/Steven.A.Arnold.II

Also present at the memorial was Nep, who gave us a very close-up observation in his memories of Steven. 

Steven and I met I believe nearly 3 years ago, both working for Pulse Radio.  I was a DJ at Pulse Radio - this was before I was a station manager - we'd been talking about our online experiences, and stuff that we did in TSO (The Sims Online)   

We both had a passion for DJ’ing online, as far as I know he was in the midst of taking courses IRL to become a DJ.   

He had a good sense of humor, twisted just like mine at times… hehe. 

He was just a fun guy... Steven had his problems just like the rest of us, but he was fun to be around.  Him and I fought just as much as we laughed together, yet he was always there when we worked at Pulse.  I'm grateful for all the help he gave us and support he showed to everyone.  He was a real team player. He is one of the DJ's that stuck through the hard times with Pookie, Disco Biscuit, myself, and Mel at the station.  He's a person I won't forget, and although I admittedly don't think of him everyday, if anyone says "Hey, remember Steven?" I will say "of course I remember him..." 

Steven’s very good friend and also, fellow DJ, Kaylea wanted to also share some memories of her very dear friend. 

(I first met Steven during) late 2003 or early 2004.  Sometime right after I started at Pulse Radio  and started playing TSO (The Sims Online).  We were just two DJ's doing what they loved to do and sharing each others passion for it. 

This was what we loved to do. Only the lucky few of us who had computer fast enough could play There. I didn't join the others until April 2004 (glad I did at that point since I had wanted to for SO long.) 

Steven’s best personal trait I can remember was willing to listen to his friends no matter what they were going through and no matter how bad it was. He always tried to make you look at the bigger picture and the bright light at the end of that long tunnel. 

My most precious memory of Steven will be all the inside jokes and laughs we shared at Pulse Radio and KTHR Radio. I will never forget his laugh or his radio voice. 

Steven, you will be missed dearly. We will never forget you. We, your friends will stick together in good times and in bad just like you did for us. 

A beautiful memorial site high on a hill in There was raised in Steven’s memory.  You can get to the site by following this link.  (Steven’s Hill)  Here you will find links to poems, message boards and a place where donations can be made for keeping the memorial PAZ in world for as long as possible…which, it is hoped…will be forever.   

Friends are also invited to leave messages on the “Steven Forum Guestbook,” created for the purpose of sharing fond memories, funny stories and your tears.  

While talking to the many friends of Etienne…Steven, I was touched by one clear thing in common that all of the comments made by loved ones had about Steven.  He truly knew what being a friend was all about and could probably teach us all something about valuing our time together.  Life is definitely too short to limit the size of our happiness bubbles!   

 

Steven A. Arnold II

1977 - 2005