Steven Bennett Schroeder

Steven (Steve) Bennett Schroeder, 37, of Tallahassee, FL, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Steve was born November 15, 1985, in Tallahassee, Florida. He was a graduate of Lawton Chiles High School (04’), was a member of the men’s lacrosse team and an active member at Wildwood Church youth group. He attended The University of Alabama where he received his Bachelor of Business in Finance and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After graduating from college, Steve moved to Wilmington, NC to pursue his love and passion for the great outdoors. He worked for Wrightsville Beach Surf Camp as a surf instructor, teaching kids and adults how to surf, paddle board and respect the ocean. Steve’s international surfing adventures took him across the world from Australia and New Zealand to Costa Rica and the British Virgin Islands. He gave the gift of surfing and loving the ocean to thousands of people. From an early age, Steve enjoyed guitar jam sessions with his family, and was a founding member, guitarist and vocalist of the band, The Midatlantic, where he brought folk, americana, celtic, and bluegrass original tunes to music lovers across the Northeastern United States. He was always filled with overflowing generosity, unending positivity and everlasting joy. Steve always greeted everyone with the biggest of smiles. He had a way of making each day and interaction a little brighter and was always looking for the next adventure on the water or in the mountains. His generosity precedes him and in death he was able to donate his organs to help save many lives. The light of the world has been dimmed with the passing of a beautiful soul. Steve is survived by his immediate family, mother and stepfather, Lori & Bill Mattice (Tallahassee, FL/Highlands, NC); his father, and stepmother, Todd & Vicky Schroeder (stepson Tanner and stepdaughters Lindsay, Heather & Deidre - Tallahassee, FL); sister, Kelli Schroeder (husband Steven and daughter Elle - Long Beach, NY), stepbrothers Bill Mattice Jr. (wife Kathrine and daughters McCrae & Sadie -Greenville, SC); David Mattice (sons Connor Reid and daughter Rowan - Atlanta, GA); stepsister Meredith Rabalais (husband Courtney and sons Cole & Harper and daughters Hadley & McKinley - Atlanta, GA); maternal grandmother, Vonnie Bennett (St. Petersburg, FL); paternal grandfather, Wayne Schroeder (Tallahassee, FL); uncle Drew Schroeder (daughter Olivia - Tallahassee, FL); aunt and uncle Marty & Scott Bennett (daughters Blair & Brett - Havana, FL, Tallahassee, FL, Jacksonville, FL). He is preceded in death by maternal grandfather Will Bennett and paternal grandmother Susan Schroeder. A celebration of Steven's life will be held at Bevis Funeral Home (200 John Knox Rd.) on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in memory of Steve be made to the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit organization protecting the earth’s ocean and beaches (surfrider.org) and Ocean Cure, a nonprofit organization improving the quality of life for people with challenges and disabilities through surfing (ocean-cure.org). Rocky Bevis and Breanna Green of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) are assisting the family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Steven Bennett Schroeder

November 15, 1985 - August 22, 2023