Claude Stevens

Claude Stevens, educator, author, philanthropist, husband, father, brother and passed, Sunday, January 8, 2012 at MCV in Richmond, Virginia. He was 63 years old. Born May 20, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Warrenton,Virginia, Claude was the oldest of seven children of Daisy and the late Lester B. Stevens, Sr. Though his siblings exasperated him and tried his patience in every way, shape and form, and in spite of the fact that they all knew he was their mother’s favorite. They all admired and loved him dearly and came to depend on his unflappability during crises, organizational savvy and corny jokes. Claude was an educator. With a Bachelor of Science of Physics from Virginia State University, he completed his Masters in Nuclear Engineering at Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and worked for Exxon in Houston, Texas. Upon his return to Richmond, he earned his MBA at Virginia Commonwealth University and began cultivating, through his employment, a personal commitment to give back to the community. He taught math at J. Sargeant Reynolds, was an analyst for Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City of Richmond, served as the Chief Operating Officer at Boaz and Ruth and Executive Director at Support One. As a long-time member of the Rotary Club and regular contributor to various charities, Claude was a humanitarian who possessed a deep appreciation for non-profit organizations and charities whose programs focused on both local and international communities. A witty and eloquent speaker, Claude’s self-deprecating and dry sense of humor entertained and educated audiences for over 20 years as a distinguished Toastmaster in Houston, Texas and Richmond, Virginia. Claude authored “Imagine That!”, a chronicle of “4 years, 3 Months and 7 Days of Meaningful Work” as Chief Operating Officer at Boaz & Ruth. The book opens with one of Claude’s favorite quotes by Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are; use what you have; do what you can.” He epitomized this both in and out of the workplace, always lending a helping hand of support to anyone in whatever way he could, whether this was assisting with resumes, buying groceries for others, building up the self-esteem of others through mentoring or simply inspiring others by his own actions. A driven list maker with an unending quest for knowledge, Claude was unfamiliar with the concept of a 40-hour work week, often working late into the evening or rising at ungodly hours to either (a) complete several tasks, (b) begin the next two or three or (c) do all of the above. Prior to his illness he was planning a second printing of “Imagine That!” and working on his next book. Among those mourning his loss are his wife, Martha Denise Stevens and their daughter, Leslie; his son, John Stevens IV (Kaila) and daughter, Jessi Stevens and their mother, Laura W. Stevens; his mother, Daisy Stevens; his siblings, Lynn Stevens, Lester Stevens Jr., Eric Stevens, Rene Marie, Sam Stevens, and John Stevens III. Other survivors include his stepson, Marcus Ransome (Veronica); god-daughter, Regais Wilson; 3 brothers-in-law; 7 sisters-in-laws; 2 step-grandsons; aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Claude Stevens

May 20, 1948 - January 8, 2012