UTICA: Steve Slage, accomplished baker, reluctant sales leader, voracious reader, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, April 19, 2015 ending his lifelong love of fishing and seafood. He was 79.

Born an east side Clevelander, October 16, 1935, he would spend innumerable days of his youth fishing in the waters of Lake Erie, and would later receive a million mile travel award from United Airlines earned while crisscrossing the U.S. as a seafood sales executive.
Though he graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the public relations departments of both Tappan and Goodyear, it was in the sales department where he made his mark. Years later he admitted to disliking sales, but it was obvious that he had a gift that drew people to him and propelled him to achieve the top sales in company after company. It would stay with him until his final days in the Arlington Care Center in Heath where residents and care takers alike all professed a love for his infectious nature.
Ever the fastidious dresser who insisted upon double Windsor-knotted ties, he traded in the Brooks Brothers suits of his "fish peddler" career for a humble baker's apron.
His love of baking found expression in his pioneering within the diet food industry in the mid 70s where he developed and sold tasty, no-sugar, fat-free and gluten-free recipes at The Diet Bakery in Southfield, Michigan. His creativity drew the attention of Goliath-like Kraft Foods whose attorneys nervously issued a cease and desist order against his tangy reduced fat sandwich spread which he called, Diet Whip. He would go on to work as a master baker for numerous employers, but he will be best remembered for the masterpieces he conjured up at home, including his amazing croissants and his enormous "Mona Lisa" pizza.

It was well into his seventh decade (following the passing of his second wife, Linda (Tasevich), of Detroit, MI; and his first, wife, Thalia (Hergenroeder) of Ravenna, Ohio) that Steve discovered his love of Louie L' Amour westerns.
Steve loved to "wet a line" at TJ Evans Park, Knox Lake, Buckeye Lake, and Infirmary Mound Park.

Steve leaves behind two sisters, Evelyn Coyne, of Wickliffe, OH, Norma O'Connor of Willoughby, OH; four children, Laurel (Candace) Logan, of Reston, VA, Stephen III, of Houston, John, of Utica, and Lisa Robinson, of Upper St. Clair, PA; along with ten grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Steve's life and rebirth with calling hours at Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N 21st St., Newark, OH from 6-8 pm, Friday, April 24, followed by a Going Home Service at 10 am, Saturday, April 25 at New Life Apostolic Fellowship, 34 S. Main St, Utica, OH with Pastor John Slage officiating .


Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home
985 North 21st Street Newark, OH 43055

Name: Slage, Charles
Date: Oct 24 1962
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #156.
Notes: Slage. Charles Slage, husband of Margaret, brother of Anna Atkins, Elizabeth Carney, Julia McManamon and Stephen Slage.
Friends received From 2-5 And 7-9 P. M. at The Boswell Jones Mortuary, 13613 Euclid Ave. Services Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Shrine, E. 40th and Euclid.
Arrangements by Margen & Son.

: Atkins, Ann R.
Date: Apr 5 1964
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #090.
Notes: Atkins. Ann R. Atkins (nee Slage) age 61, of Mentor, Ohio, beloved wife of Walter, dear mother of Rita Bennington, Virginia Langhoff, Miss Barbara, and George, sister of Mrs. George Carney and Stephen Slage, grandmother.
The family will receive friends 2-4 And 7-9 P. M. Sunday And Monday at the Brunner Funeral Home, 8466 Mentor Ave. (Rt. 20) Mentor. Requiem mass 10 a. m. Tuesday St. Mary's Church Mentor. Interment All Souls Cemetery, Chardon

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