Stephen Timothy Utterback

SHARON — Stephen Timothy Utterback, 58, of Sharon, cherished and dear husband of Carol Denise Graham and loving father of Raimie Leigh Utterback, died in his sleep on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. 

Steve is also survived by his father, Harry K. Utterback and his father’s companion, Dottie R. Doerle, of Canaan Valley, West Va.; his brothers, Matthew E. Utterback of Canaan Valley and Andrew H. Utterback and his wife, Susanna M. Cowan, of Storrs, Conn.; his nieces, Ruth and Anna; his nephews, Elias and Myles; Ruth’s mom, Meg Utterback; Raimie’s mom, Teal Atkinson; the Hicks and Witmer clans, Uncle Kermit, Aunt Kitsie, Aunt Lee, Uncle Roger, Aunt Ann, and first cousins Lori, Brenda, David, Susan, Bruce, Jodi, Todd, and Laura; and the Sellin clan in Kalamazoo, Mich. He was also loved and survived by his in-laws, the Graham/Reeves clan: mother-in-law Joyce D. Reeves of Linden, Tenn.; Carol’s siblings David and Debbie Graham of Miami, Fla., Jackie and Steve Wilder of Manchester, Tenn., and Patti Graham of Linden, Tenn.; nieces and nephews Wesley, Joey, Samantha and Joshua and Kinsey, and grandnephew Leo. 

Steve made a ton of friends over the years, and he’ll be sorely missed by Cristian, Bruce, Garrett, Brewster, Eddie, Ron, Ted and countless others.

Steve was born May 23, 1960, in Washington, D.C., to Harry Kriechbaum Utterback and Phyllis Mae Hicks Utterback and was raised in Maryland. 

Steve was a passionate liberal socialist democrat: He loved to argue, he was stubborn, and he relished the opportunity to make others “prove me wrong” if they didn’t share his point of view. He wore his heart on his sleeve. “So, sue me …”

Steve graduated from Atholton High School in 1978 and earned a degree in business from the University of Colorado in Boulder. 

After graduating from college, Steve and Teal married and welcomed Raimie in 1987. Steve started his own auto parts store in Longmont, Colo., before moving back to the Northeast to work in the automobile industry in numerous and various capacities, including running the store at Lime Rock Park, wrenching for different shops (including his own, Basically British), and handling parts for Cam Motors and Morgan Motors.

In the middle of all these automotive industry roles, Steve caught the radio bug and, after working as a volunteer for WKZE in Sharon (Sunday Sessions), he took over as the weekday morning announcer and host. Steve’s unique basement-bass voice and encyclopedic knowledge of music was well-known in the Sharon area by all who heard him during those years. He was not supposed to editorialize during the newscasts, but he did it anyway. 

Steve loved to talk. A phone call with Steve was easily to be counted in hours, and the topics would usually range from the latest domestic political policy to carburetor tuning to the intricacies of throw-out bearings. 

One of the most significant moments in his life happened in 1976. Steve received his driver’s license and the keys to what was at that time the family station wagon: a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Wagon (327ci/300 hp), 4-speed manual, 9:11 posi — the “tow package.” A Hurst shifter, a set of Cragars and two white racing stripes later, Steve had one of the fastest cars in the lot and began to receive the first of what would be many “driving awards.” 

Steve simply loved cars. Over the years he owned, bought and sold, wrenched and drove so many automobiles that it is simply impossible to list them all. Highlights include the Chevelle Malibu Wagon, Sunbeam Alpines, Morris Mini, Porsche, Maserati, Jaguar, Renault, Triumph, Land Rover, his Chevrolet Corvette and his beloved nemesis, the “white whale” — the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa (see throw-out bearing). 

Steve loved car racing. He traveled to see races at tracks all over — Indy, Daytona, Le Mans, and more. He preferred SCCA, the 24-hour races and Formula One. He knew the drivers. He knew the cars. And behind the wheel of an automobile, Steve was really, really good as a driver — but he was an even better mechanic and parts guy. Naturally, he loved going to car shows, especially with Uncle Kerm. 

He could fix anything, including the furnace, the roof, and the shallow-well jet pump. MacGyver had nothing on Steve Utterback, and that’s a fact.

Steve loved to sing. In May of 1978, his starring role as Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” (opposite Cindy Chamblee as Maria) will never be forgotten. As far as that goes, Steve was definitely a drama queen, and he loved Broadway and grand opera. Some of his and Carol’s most cherished times were long weekends in Manhattan to eat great food, take in a fantastic jazz show and see favorites at The Met or on The Great White Way. The next time you’re humming a show tune, think of Steve. Singing is how we passed the time at family gatherings and on road trips. It’s also how we got through doing the Thanksgiving dishes — or by doing Monty Python bits, or both. Bugs Bunny quotes and extended performances were usually not far behind. “Oh Brunhilda, you’re so lovely. Yes I know it, I can’t help it …”

Steve loved to cook, and he loved to eat. He grilled everything, including stuff you probably shouldn’t grill. He knew how to make Granny Utterback’s pork and sauerkraut, which is awesome. Steve was a master at cooking breakfasts; after all, he had trained with the renowned Chef Harré in the infamous Otterbrook kitchen. 

Christmas was a blast. Steve loved to do up gift baskets for everyone. He made tire chains for Pop’s Weber grill. He gave us the BP-02. We went skiing. We went sledding. We would watch the Grinch and sing along with Boris Karloff. He drove the Renault Turbo in the snow (on racing tires, no less!) and never got stuck. Go figure. And, he fixed the model train and the stupid basement door lock. 

Steve loved to travel. Memorable moments include England and France for Le Mans and Goodwood, Utah by way of Amtrak for Andrew’s 40th birthday ski soirée, cross-country train trips with Carol, Nag’s Head with the Hicks clan, Sonoma with Carol, Alaska with the Utterbacks, Disney and Harry Potter with the Graham-Reeves clan (Gilderoy Lockhart had nothing on Steve in the way of magical flair), and any place he could go by rail or that had an “interesting” auto route. The list of great roads and great cars he wanted to drive was ever-growing.

Steve was not the most organized person in the world and had a tough time throwing things away and “letting go” of stuff — and it drove everyone crazy. He collected Road & Track magazines, car books, esoteric car parts, automobilia of all kinds, music, tools and model cars of all makes, models and sizes. Just a few short weeks ago, he pulled a NOS Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle carburetor off the shelf in the garage and sold it for cheap to some kid at Lime Rock. That was typical.

After graduating from CU, he worked. He worked and worked and worked and never made a ton of money (see throw-out bearing). Yet Steve was a generous soul. He really was so generous with what he had to give — his time, his talk and his love. Remember him for that. 

All are grateful that he passed while he was with Carol in Indianapolis. He’s with Ritner and Mom now. And Raimie says he can drive as fast he wants …

A memorial service will be held in spring.