Almost exactly 16 years ago, on my first day working at the Vineyard Gazette, a tall, bearded guy with long wingspan arms walked over to my desk, leaned in and said, “You look fried, you should head home for a break.”
He was right, I was out of my element but afraid to do anything about it. With his words of encouragement, I packed up, went home and came back the next morning refreshed.
It was just one of countless kindnesses Steve Durkee offered me, along with all the other Gazette editors, reporters, interns, anyone, really, who walked through the door, during his 35 years of working at the Gazette.
Steve, who died on Tuesday, May 5 at the age of 64, was the heart and soul of the Gazette. His official title was art director, but that did not begin to cover the scope of what he did at the paper, and what he did for everyone who has ever worked here.
Steve was everyone’s favorite. There is no other name on that list because no one else comes close to how he made everyone feel and how he could make everyone laugh. He was also the one person at the Gazette who could have put out the entire paper by himself. He could write it, edit it, proofread it, take the photographs, find the perfect skyline and lay all the pages out. He could even draw an illustration or two, which he did from time to time. He was that talented.
As the rush of condolences came in this week, a mixture of shock and sadness at the sudden turn of events after the cancer that seemed to be under control was no longer under control, a common theme kept emerging: We were all so lucky to have had Steve in our lives.
He was a summer kid from Connecticut who moved here after going to art school to spend a winter on the Island hanging out. He definitely hung out, a lover of the Grateful Dead and the Vineyard’s hippie scene. But he also got a job at the Vineyard Gazette, hired by Alison Shaw, who wrote this week that it was one of the best decisions she ever made.
And he never left. Not the Island nor the Gazette, even though he retired from the paper last May.
He loved the Vineyard. A former intern wrote to me saying how Steve would tell him about his evenings after work, about riding his bike to the beach for a dip, going scalloping or visiting his favorite wild blueberry bushes. Each Christmas he made jam for all the reporters.
As for me, someone who started working at the Gazette later in life, at the age of 44, I have often marveled that I found another best friend so late in life. During Covid, just the two of us would come into the office to put out the paper, and although seated at opposite ends of the newsroom it was as if we were lashed together like a pair of lifeboats, becoming stronger together to face the storm.
Yesterday, after I received word from his wife about his passing, I spent the day calling the wide and extended family of Gazetters. These were hard talks, but cathartic too, hearing so many voices once again who have called the newsroom home, and who have called Steve their best friend.
There will be a memorial service, beginning at noon on Sunday, May 17 at the East Chop Lighthouse, followed by a gathering at the Sailing Camp park.
This article appears in May 8, 2026.
Beautiful remembrance, Bill, of a most beautiful, wonderful, loving soul. I will add to the chorus, I am so lucky to have known you Steve, and have been known by you. Liz, my heart is with you as you navigate this unimaginable loss, and will be among the many carrying Durk with me.
I’d count myself in that category of former VG colleagues, who enjoyed every facet of working one desk away from Turt — his music, his humor, skills and kindness. He loved my dog. And welcomed my teenage son, a frequent presence there in early 2000’s, with just the right amount of mischief.
As Bill Eville wrote, Steve kept an eye on us, spotted signs of angst and stress and offered up the medicine: a bit of The Smiths or Kraftwerk, a stroll to the cafe for lattes or a comment bound to make you laugh & feel better. Such a good person.
I met Steve serving on the OB CPA committee together. Steve was wise, kind and very helpful to me when I first joined the committee. My condolences to Liz and Steve’s Gazette family.
Wingspan is an apt word. I likened Steve’s arms like the wings of a giant condor that would envelop us in his wit, humor, and kindness. He was the silent guardian of the newsroom, especially those of us new, insecure or unsure of ourselves. It really is no exaggeration when I say many writers may not have made it without his encouragement and guidance and friendship. I’m not sure I would have. Oh, Steve-o, how you will he missed.
What a wonderful tribute to an absolutely incredible person. I worked with Steve for 19 1/2 years. He was the most down to earth honest and easy to work with person that made coming to the Gazette that much easier. He will be missed by many including myself.
Thank you, Bill, for being able to put words to the joy of knowing Steve. It’s intimidating to drop into the world of the Island and the Gazette, but Steve made sure everyone who passed through the newsroom was included and got up to speed. I will miss my friend and mentor and the singing that pushed us all through the homestretch every week.
I worked as a summer intern at the Gazette when I was in college in the early 2000s, and I can still picture Steve striding his big strides across the newsroom. An imposing presence, in the warmest, most affable sense, and the unequivocal captain of our ship: a steady, kind, wise, patient, hilarious muse who set the tone for us all.
Steve was clearly so loved by all who knew him. He will be missed but in a way his giant spirit lives deeply in our memories. Losing such a keystone person in a community rocks the foundations of so many. My condolences to his family including all in his Gazette family. Prayers for all!
Reading this made me smile, then cry, then smile again. You’re right, Bill. Steve touched the heart of everyone who was lucky enough to work with him in the newsroom. It was an honor to be even a small part in that, sitting in the desk in front of him in his last year before retirement. We’ll all miss him dearly and forever.
I met Steve through his wife, Liz, a childhood friend and a member of our East Chop gang of dozens roaming the streets and beaches at night for decades.
Her kindness and gentle energy, the perfect fit for his humor, brilliance 2 sides of a perfect peach.
They were my neighbors, friends, and family as we’d continue to regroup year after year- little changes over time, but the Durkees were a solid orbit to attach to, always available, solid, strong.
I am so deeply sorry about Stephen’s passing- for my friend Liz, for myself, for all of us who have been touched by the heart of that gentle, kind, and truly beautiful person who made us all feel….loved and safe.
He was safety and love, embodied for anyone who needed a smile, laugh, friend, or just a quick hey- Steve made everything alright somehow… Thank you Steve- for all that you have given to us.
I was a fish out of water my first summer as a reporter at the Gazette in 2001. Steve was an anchor, a safe voice and face during my time on the Vineyard. Thanks for that, dear friend.
The title of this is so fitting. Steve had an undeniable charm, wit and edge about him that made the Gazette what is. I hope he’s enjoying his tunes…
I’m so sorry to hear about Steve’s passing. So many memories come to mind of our time together. The afternoon we sat down and determined that we could win the New England Newspaper of the Year award if we really strategized our entries. We did, and we won a number of times over the next few years. The day we met with our website contractor and he told us all the things the site couldn’t do, and when he left the room, we both said at the same time that we needed to find another web guy. The week we installed our layout software InDesign on Monday to replace QuarkXPress, and Steve still put out the paper that Friday. And of course his constant singing of whatever tune happened to be in his head at the moment. Godspeed Steve, you left too soon.
I’m so sorry to hear about Steve’s passing. I was a reporter at the Gazette for a year in the early 2000s (with some of the people who commented above!). I was always struck by the care Steve put into his work, but also his quiet confidence. He wasn’t one of those people who had to be loud to show how smart and important he was. He never took up too much space. And he respected and supported people like me who were very, very young and in our first real jobs. I’m so sorry he’s gone.
Steve was always a supporter of my photography and would run them in the Gazettte often. I’ll miss our FB communications. My condolences to his friends and family.
Steve aka Turt was the best! still have the Richard Brautigan books he gave me 100 years ago when i was a kid fresh out of college catching papers off the press… bundling papers for delivery… good times…