Stephen Foster Salsbury

May 31, 1950 — August 7, 2014

Stephen Foster Salsbury (age 64), was a highly regarded father, elder brother, uncle, and longtime resident of San Juan Island, Wash.

He passed peacefully at home while appreciating the generous support of the community, on Aug. 7, 2014.

His personal struggles with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), is foreshadowed by many unique lifetime achievements, and the loving memory he has left us with.

Born on May 31, 1950 to Jean Claire and Allen Salsbury in Seattle, Wash., he was raised in an artistically minded home; with design, music, painting, nature, and family at the heart of education. He resided as an adult on San Juan Island, Twisp, Wash. (or over the mountains, as he would have said) and on “The Big Island” of Hawaii, building his own homes by hand for his family along the way, as well as improving and loving the land he built on.

He was a talented carver, vegetable gardener, and canning/preserving expert—his soft dried mangoes and bananas were like none-other. He was a keeper-of-bees and farmer of bananas, and regularly shared both with neighbors and friends through the years.

Stephen’s passion for both the ocean and land was shown with his intricate knowledge of both native Hawaiian and Washington wildlife, and the care he gave to preserving the habitat that surrounded him. Whether it’s an eagle flying overhead, a woodpecker mistaking our house for a dead tree or an otter playing in the ocean, he always took a moment to take notice, appreciate, and be thankful.

But more than anything, he was a wonderful father, brother, uncle and friend to any who crossed his path, his first passion was always his family and loved ones.

He is survived by his caring daughter Leilani Simone Dyer of San Juan Island, brother Scott Salsbury, sister Susanna Salsbury (Thaddeus Krol), and nephews Zecca Lehn and Javas Lehn.

His family and close friends will remember him for his kind, loving, and gentle ways and the ever present positivity as he faced each new day. He is preceded in death by his loving mother and father.

A private traditional Hawaiian ceremony was held for his immediate family.

— Family of Stephen Salsbury