Steven Collins Obituary

Steven Francis Collins, 48, slipped from this life unexpectedly on November 13, 2016 at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill following 11 days in ICU.

Steve was born February 29, 1968 in Los Angeles, California to Francis Chandler Collins and Martha Morris Collins. Leaving California at 4 months of age he lived in El Paso, TX; Alhambra, CA; Leavenworth, KS; moving to Colorado Springs, CO at age 7. Steve graduated from Palmer High School in 1986. High School Activities included Student Cabinet and Debate where he was CSAA State Champion in Cross Examination Debate.

At Kansas State University, he remained active in Debate culminating in a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet President George H W Bush when the KSU Debate Team ranked first in the nation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Education in 1991 and received his Master of Arts Degree in Rhetoric and Communication from the University of California, Davis in 1993. Steve continued his education with Doctoral Studies at the University of Texas, Austin and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Through the years he taught classes at the above schools plus St Edwards University, Austin Community College, Concordia College in Austin, Texas. At the time of his death, he was an adjunct instructor at Piedmont Community College, Roxboro, NC. He was also self-employed as a licensed Health & Life Insurance Agent.

Steve's life can best be summarized by the following comments posted on Facebook by his friends across the country: "a gentle soul, brilliant mind, good humor, caring and generous friend; he motivated me; he helped me become who I am; …amazed at the depth and breadth of his knowledge, especially when it came to music; compassionate; a kind soul; a pure and positive individual; warm, funny endearing curmudgeon; an inspiration; a beautiful precise wit; good hearted, witty, intellectually curious and challenging; intelligent, wonderful person with many gifts to share."

Steve is survived by his mother Marti, brother Christopher, sister Kelly, sister-in-law Karen (Foley), nephew David and niece Kestrel of Colorado; aunt and uncle Sandy (Morris) and Floyd Ring; cousins David, Stacey (Hohl) and Kristen Ring of California. He was preceded in death by his father; paternal grandparents Francis and Elizabeth Chandler Collins; maternal grandparents George and Elizabeth Davies Morris; and uncles Richard, George Jr. and Jeffrey Morris.

The family will have a private farewell at a later date. We thank all who were a part of his life; he left us too soon. Steve - "Ar dheis De go raibh a anam" (Rest in Peace).