Boyd Bonitzke
Villagers Media Productions (1990-2003)
What we do from day to day, what we create, where we go, what we see, and listen to, and read…
However much these things contribute to the shape and tone and essence of our lives, they pale when compared to the \imprint of those we spend our time with.

I was lucky enough to have shared a big chunk of my life with Steve, both at Villagers and years before that. Though we hadn’t spoken for a long time, I often thought of him. I might notice something at home that he had given me. A small gift or memento from one of his trips. Or something he’d once said would pop into my head, just a few perfectly chosen words that stayed with me for life.

When I think of all the things we did together – whether it was a spur-of-the-moment invitation to go sailing on Lake Ontario, or jumping out of the Jeep in Bangladesh to film a cyclone, just as it ripped the roof off a house, or crawling through the sewers to interview homeless children in Ulaanbaatar, or driving to Buffalo on a moment’s notice and spending the evening with a group of chanters at a poetry reading, or just rearranging all his furniture to improve the flow of chi – no matter what it was, Steve was in it without reservation. His enthusiasm, and the sheer joy he took in living, was something to behold. My life has been enriched by his presence, and I’m grateful for it.

Mike Dodds 
Villagers Media Productions (1998-2004)
I am so sorry to hear about Steve’s passing. Steve was a good good talented man with whom I had the priviledge of travelling to countries such as Kenya, Malawi, Haiti and NWT. What I remember most about Steve was his tenacious spirit and keen eye in the field, looking for just the right setting (be it a simple village hut at night or a 5 am meeting with fishers coming in from a night on the water or a madrasa led with eager young minds and hearts or a temple of worshippers or an aboriginal gathering of elders around a campfire to name just a few!).

What mattered to Steve was the faces and voices of “global citizens” in their own settings, sharing their own stories along with mentors and organizations who were passionate about a vision of hope and possibility, often in the face of the most difficult and unjust circumstances. Nothing would deter Steve from collecting the images and voices of the people who mattered most! Nothing!

I honestly felt like I was a small part of a such creative team involved in a critical mission to highlight the voices that mattered from every corner of the globe. I learned SO much from Dawn’s brilliant executive skills of creating the vision and piecing the stories together and Steve’s undying dedication to “capture” the truth (and the magic) to bring home to the studio.

When I first met Steve and Dawn as part of the Redemptorist “Perpetual Help” series, little did I know what an impact they would have on my life. What I will never forget is the kind and caring demeanour of Steve as he went about his meticulous set up of whatever scene he was going to film. It made everyone feel that their story was important and deserved to be heard! For me that’s Steve’s greatest legacy.

Chris Goncalves
Villagers Media Productions (1999-2003)
I don’t know where to begin other than the beginning of my adventure with Villagers.
You and Steve accepted me into your family when I was 18 years old. I was kid straight out of high school. You were mom, Steve was dad, Genny was my big sister, there was Michael P. my big brother, Uncle Boyd who I usually would see as I was leaving for the night and of course my cousin, Michael C.

On the surface, I learned so much about television and video production from you all, but more importantly I learned more about the value of hard work, the struggle and sacrifice it takes to reach success and the feelings of joy when come to the end of a project, and the eagerness to move on to the next one. You were a part of my personal growth and taught me about how to truly experience and appreciate the world we live in, and to this day every time I step on a plane I think back to travelling with Steve.

I was lucky enough to travel with Steve to thirteen countries and a handful of Canadian provinces. I will always remember Steve for being fearless. His camera work would not be possible without his energy, drive and determination to get he best shot, no matter what obstacles were ahead. I remember spotting him through the busy streets of Lagos avoiding vehicles and pedestrians at every turn, I remember filming hippos and crocodiles on the Victoria Nile, Uganda, night shooting in Manila, knee deep in flood water, Steve driving a stick shift jeep at high speeds to get us to Santiago airport on time for the next flight, but in my opinion nothing tops our adventure in Ghana.

We were out filming elephants in the wild and there was a brief moment of panic when an elephant got scared and began to charge us, it only took a few steps, but that was enough to send myself and our guide running in all directions. As I was running I looked over at Steve and he stood still, he looked up from his viewfinder, took a step back and began to move away slowly… still holding the camera and tripod. I thought to myself “Please Steve drop the camera and go!” but not even an elephant would stop Steve from getting the perfect shot.

Deep down I will always remember Steve for his kind heart and words of wisdom to me over the years. Both of you helped me better myself personally and professionally. You instilled values in me that I still use to this day, even though my life and career have changed. I now have a family of my own and one of my goals in life is to travel with them to as many countries as possible and teach my children to accept others and to always be compassionate and full of passion no matter what they choose to do. I want to teach them that it is ok to make mistakes and even fail at times and never give up because success is there for those who are brave enough to seek it. This is what I learned most from my time at Villagers.

Dawn and Steve. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family and helping me become the man that I am today.

Steve you will be missed and always remembered in my heart.

Genny Holt
Villagers Media Productions (1995-2015)

I am very sad to hear that Steve is gone. I spent the day remembering my time with you both and looked back through my photo albums from our trips together. Those experiences are what shaped a large part of my personality and worldview. A great sense of gratitude for the life that I have and an appreciation and joy in other people's cultures and traditions is definitely something I can credit to both you and Steve. And something I am trying to pass on to my daughter.

I remember our trips and how genuinely interested Steve always was listening to people talk about their life stories and how much love he had for cultures of every kind.I I learned so much about how to be a better person from those experiences.

Chris Allen
Villagers Media Productions (1993-2003)

I spent some formative years with you guys. Lessons learned on shoots with Steve have found their way down through time to my own kids.

When Steve and I were with the Quechua in the Andes it was one of the hardest, most grueling times I’d ever endured. The altitude, infrequent meals, and wrangling all the production gear had utterly depleted me. With his indefatigable Hungarian constitution, Steve threw that 25 Lb BetaCam up on his shoulder and reframed our plight as the kind of spiritual adventure where adversity only makes one stronger. At least that was my secular humanist memory of it anyway, I think his actual speech employed words like “Providence.”

For me, that encapsulates his essence: traveling with Steve you’d find yourself again and again leaping into the void, only to find every time a bridge would appear.

Darren KinashVillagers Media Productions (2005-Present)

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest condolences for the loss of Steve. I first met Steve on my birthday in 2005. We took a car ride to a familiar place—Ottawa. What made it special wasn't just the destination, but the four hours we spent talking about our lives and our shared love of film. It was the best gift I could have asked for, and a moment I’ll treasure forever.

Our next adventure took us to a place that was far less familiar—Uganda. It was there that Steve taught me the importance of appreciating and respecting different cultures. His wisdom and openness made this trip one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. I learned so much from him, not just about the world, but about how to approach life with curiosity and kindness.

Over the following years, we traveled to many other countries together. Steve had a way of finding stories in the most unexpected places, and he showed me how to discover beauty in the ordinary, everyday lives of people who, despite their struggles, could inspire the world with their music, their laughter and resilience, and their care for each other, especially their children.

Steve was the one who introduced me to the art of filming with a BetaCam. He patiently showed me the intricacies of operating the camera, from understanding the manual controls to mastering the art of framing a shot. His guidance helped me appreciate the technical aspects of cinematography, while also teaching me how to tell a story through the lens. Steve's passion for capturing moments was contagious, and his expertise with the BetaCam became the foundation of my own skills in filmmaking.What could never be fully learned, but always to aim for, was Steve's uncanny ability to put strangers of all cultures and languages at ease within minutes of meeting them, as if he were the one person they had been waiting for to confide in. With the camera rolling, they would pour out their life stories and reflections. It helped that Steve, a natural multi-linguist, had already picked up enough phrases in the local language to get him through introductions with his interviewees.

I will miss our conversations more than I can express. Steve had a unique perspective on life, and his words always left a lasting impact on me.

I want you to know that the lessons Steve shared with me will live on. I will pass them on to my children, teaching them to find beauty in the everyday.

Mike Coleman 
Villagers Media Productions (2000-2003)
I was so sorry to hear that Steve has passed. At dinner, our family raised a glass to Steve and I shared the story of us sneaking into the maquiladora in DR to film and how we met the security team at the banana plantation in Honduras. Mostly I’ll remember Steve for his kindness, curiosity and sense of fairness.

Fr. Santo Arrigo, CSsR
Provincial Superior, Redemptorists of Canada
Please accept our condolences and prayer during this difficult time. I can appreciate the love and dedication that you had with his care, not just recently, but over the years. Our communities are holding Steve, yourself, and the Villagers family in our thoughts and prayers at this time.

Fr. Mark Miller, CSsR
Redemptorists of Canada

Fr. Santo informed me about Steve’s death and then forwarded your lovely letter (with reference to my “WhenGod Calls You Home.” -- and it sounds like Steve followed it to the letter!). My heart goes out to you and I will certainly keep Steve in my prayers.

Paul Higgins
Friend
Steve was a wonderful friend growing up in Hamilton. He was so smart and always lots of fun!! God bless Steve!

Peter Hamon
Friend
I believe him to be now truly ‘home’ in the deepest sense, but I’m sorry you will be without his companionship. He looked good in the photos you sent; sort of like a retired physicist. He was my greatest friend for quite a number of years.

Len Smofsky
Friend
Steve and I went to film school together, and worked on one film shortly after. Although we've been out of touch for many years, it's clear that Steve lead an exceptional life... and had great impact on so many people around the world. Few of us achieve that.

Even when we were quite young, I remember Steve's calm demeanor... especially during a crisis. I remember filming with Steve, and when we were behind schedule, with bad weather, pretty much everything that could go wrong happening at the same time... Steve would see me freaking out, and say "it'll be ok". It'll be fine". With his calming smile, at that moment it was exactly what I needed to hear. And in the end, he was right.

Kristóf & Ivan
Friends
Though our time with Steve was brief, having moved to Canada December, 2022, his impact on us was profound. From the start, it was clear that Steve had a unique outlook on life, one shaped by his deep artistic sensibility. We found great comfort in sharing a connection with Steve’s Hungarian roots, especially his bicycle tour around Europe and Hungary when he was a very young man. He gave us perspective about our own adventure as young men new to the Canadian culture.

Our get-together occasions, where we enjoyed Hungarian food and shared stories, were highlights of our time together. We also appreciate the walks we took together with Steve. His eye for detail and wisdom left a lasting impression, even in our limited interactions.

We express our deepest condolences to Steve's family and friends. The love and care provided to him, along with the memories Dawn shared with us, helped us understand that Steve was a special person who gave his attention to making people of diverse cultures and backgrounds feel understood and included.

As we grieve, we hold onto the comfort that Steve's work and spirit will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who cherished him. Steve’s journey touched many, and his artistic vision and human kindness will remain a guiding light for us all.

May his memory be a source of inspiration.

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Poem for Steve
by Darren Kinash

In distant lands beneath the sun's warm light,
Two souls set out to film all within sight.
With cameras ready and a mission to complete,
They found stories hidden under the heat.

In villages where hope seems hard to find,
They filmed the spark within the human mind.
A mother’s smile despite an empty plate,
A child's laughter, challenging their fate.

Through slums and shanties, over hills so steep,
They journeyed on, their promises to keep.
They shared the tales of lives often unseen,
In every tear, in every fleeting dream.

Through clear lenses, they showed the world to see,
Life covered in destruction and debris.
They filmed not just the hunger and the pain,
But the joy and resilience that remain.

For in each frame, a message deeply stored,
That in the world's great wealth, none be ignored.
Two souls captured everything they were told,
The poorest stories worth their weight in gold.

In fate’s grand scheme, the journey often bends,
One soul traveled where open skies transcend.
To a richer realm where suffering is none,
One adventure ended, and a new begun.

So in the mind, their stories still rewind,
Alive in the old footage and enshrined.
One soul ascended, yet forever seen,
In every frame of memory’s silent screen.