It is with sad and broken hearts we create this memorial page for Captain Stephen Cross, Jr.
He was killed in a boating accident on November 22, 2024.
It has come as a shock to us all...
It is at times like this that we hug loved ones a little tighter and savor our time with them a lot more.
We will always remember his kindness...adventurous spirit...and patience...
Flotilla Registration for bringing Stephen back to St. Thomas. Please sign-up.
Picture Gallery of Captain Stephen
A Go Fund Me Page has been started for Stephen Cross for donations.
Things about Captain Stephen...
He loved being a captain and he absolutely loved exploring nature. Taking people on day trip was about giving them new experiences with nature. For one set of our guests he free dove and found a lobster that they took to the beach and cooked over a fire.
Another set of guests and personal friends. They were swimming into The Sandy Spit when their dad started to struggle in the swim in. Stephen swam right to Dad and helped him. Stephen had Dad breath face down in the water through a snorkel to calm down and regulate breathing and able make it to the spit. Once calmed, Stephen found a ripe coconut, cracked it open, and had him drink the coconut milk. The coconut milk is full of electrolytes and nutrients to help recover. He then led us all around the island exploring and teaching us about the plants and and cracking a few jokes along the way. All in bare feet!
Captain Stephen took over Amy's training on driving the boats. Captain Ted & Scott started her, but she was ready for more advanced training. Stephen stepped in and provided additional thoughtful training increasing her comfortability on docking the boats, understanding all the features of the boats and when to use them. Stephen also provided encouragement to go beyond my personal apprehensions. Remembering "slow is pro" and "be aware of your surrounds" Amy has taken the boat out successfully more than ever before!
We valued Stephen's care of our passengers and out boats. He cleaned and took care of Tenacity with respect and wisdom. Stephen was respected by the fellow Captains and Crew that knew him. Once Amy was on her boat Tenacity solo and while prepping to cast off at West End a gentleman came to help her, mentioning he recognized "Stephen's boat." Amy appreciated being in Stephen's network! Stephen is requested frequently by our repeat clients and we have had many clients express their condolences.
Stephen, we are better to have known you and are grateful for the influence you have had on our lives.
Amy & Kenny Anderson
& SeaHorse Water Taxi Team
Donna Smith
I have been struggling to come up with the right words to express my profound sadness at the tragic death of Captain Steve. It is still so unbelievable. Reading all the words, stories, and experiences leave me feeling such a loss for the world to not have him in it. I certainly did not know him as well as others but the times I spent with him or communicating with him made it so obvious what a tremendous person he was. I will try to focus on the happy memories that he provided to us in order to celebrate the life that he lived.
I first met Captain Steve when he captained our catamaran charter in 2017. Our whole family just meshed with him. We were all a little nervous but he made everything easy. We loved our son lobster hunting and coconut hunting with him, our sons swinging on the swing with him, and the best Painkillers he made for us. We loved his and Rachel’s code word for providing distraction and still use it to this day - TURTLE! One of the pictures from the trip is still my screensaver.
I kept in touch with him after that trip and when he was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019 we arranged to meet him in Virginia. We have a cabin close to the trail so we picked him up and fed him and provided a good night’s sleep and then put him back on the trail with some food and supplies. He loved fishing in the river by our cabin. He loved being with our dog Moose. And he loved our local beer 🙂
This year we started talking again about another charter - he was going to be our captain again. He was so generous in being willing to help from the island end. I had reserved a bareboat and our last texts were about talking after Thanksgiving to discuss more details. We are so sad that we don’t ever get to see him again.
I can’t even imagine how Caitie, his family, and friends must be feeling. I hope all can take comfort in each other and all the memories that have been acquired over his short, but well-lived, life. He positively affected the lives of so many people in his time here on earth. It was an honor to have known him.
Shine on Captain Steve. The world will miss you.
Donna Smith and family
Amanda Brogno
I have so many stories about my cousin Stephen. I was lucky to visit his family every summer for a couple weeks in Newport RI. We would have lobster races and movies in the loft. We had adventures outside in the huge yard . When we were older and visited our family in Myrtle Beach, Stephen would grab my little kids on the beach and prop them up in the surfboard or throw us on a catamaran. He was always the most fun and the most positive and loving person.
Two years ago I was lucky to have him captain our catamaran for my 10th anniversary. He sailed us and our 6 friends around St. John. We had so many amazing moments with him from him ordering us to do tequila shots and jump in the pouring rain to go snorkeling or the time he made us play limbo or when he made us ceviche out of the fresh fish we caught. Stephen made everyone feel special and was the most genuine and compassionate soul. It rained almost the entire time we were there but he didn’t let that damper our experience. I honestly left there a better human after spending that week with him. I left with a completely different outlook on life.
I will always think of my cousin and the impact he left on me and everyone else around him. Every time I see beauty around I will think of Stephen and his ability to make any experience a positive one and his lesson to find joy in every moment and make the most of your time here on earth.