ROCKFORD, IL — An advocate, athlete and former Rockford Public Library page known for his warmth and kindness, Steve Freeman died July 5 at age 55.
Despite being born with the genetic disorder Down syndrome, Freeman lived life to the fullest.
He was the oldest of three siblings, a multisport athlete and exceptional swimmer who served as a Special Olympics global messenger. He worked full-time as a page, re-shelving books at the Rockford Public Library main branch for 20 years.
“He was just — inspirational — is the word. He taught me how to dance. He taught me how to have empathy,” said Scott Freeman, Freeman’s younger brother. “He was just a buddy to all my friends. Anywhere I went, he went, and he was just the biggest supporter of my sister, she’s in the middle, and then me with all of our sports and whatnot. If he could make it to any of our things, school activities or sporting events, he was our biggest supporter.”
Freeman was born September 18, 1970, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Kenneth and Evelyn Freeman.
He was a Jefferson High School graduate and booster of the Rockford area Gigi’s Playhouse. He was a volunteer with the Rockford Police Department’s citizens assisting police program. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America and became a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus with St. Joseph the Worker Council #15530.
And Freeman was a substitute at the 1991 Special Olympics World Summer Games that included 6,000 athletes from 100 countries around the world.
Freeman participated in as many sports with the Special Olympics as he could.
Freeman was a “joy to work with,” had an infectious, light-hearted spirit, loved books and loved helping people, said Donna Hopson, who was Freeman’s manager at the Rockford Public Library for many years.
“Steve loved to talk, and he loved people,” Hopson said. “In the mornings, before the library opened, his mom would drop him off early and he would stand across the street and he would have his earphones on and he would dance and sing along with the music. It was just a joy to see. It would brighten up your day.”
A funeral mass is planned at 11 a.m. July 17 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave. Visitation will be held in the parish hall from 9:30 a.m. until the mass. A celebration luncheon will immediately follow, and all are welcome to attend. Burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that memorials be made in Freeman’s name to Gigi’s Playhouse of Rockford, Rockford Special Olympics and Northen Illinois Hospice.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Advocate, athlete and inspiration, Rockford’s Steve Freeman dies
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
