Synopsis "The Story of Steve: Growing Up a Nerd in the Fifties and Sixties"
Steven Lower was born in Pasadena, California in March of 1945 and grew up in the community of Fullerton in Orange County. After graduating from Buena Park High School in June 1963, he started college the following September at Fullerton Junior College. Steven was drafted into the Army in March of 1966, two days after his 21st birthday. After basic training, followed by infantry and jungle combat training, he served a tour of duty in Southeast Asia. Based upon his performance, Steven was promoted to the rank of Sergeant E-5, very unusual for someone with so little time in the Army, and something he is very proud of. However, the affects of combat can be debilitating, and after his two years were up Steven left active duty with both physical and mental problems, including depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After the Army, Steven eventually went back to college, starting at Fullerton Junior College in the spring of 1971, graduating a year later in 1972. After a year at Long Beach State University, Steven moved to San Diego where he attended San Diego State University. Steven graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in geology, specializing in hydrogeology, in 1974, followed by a Master's Degree in 1977. Steven met the love of his life, Kathy, in San Diego in the summer of 1975; they were married in February 1977. In 1979 they moved to Oklahoma City where Steven took his position with Kerr-McGee Corporation. In 1992 they moved to Kathy's dream home in the country south of Chandler, Oklahoma. Kathy loved the rural life, and for nine years was able to enjoy the kind of life she had always wanted. After 24 years of marriage Steven lost Kathy to cancer in 2001; as of June 2015 he is still struggling with the heartbreak of losing his wife. Steve has been writing for most of his life, starting with short story fiction and poetry in the 7th grade. He always seemed to be writing term papers in college, including his undergraduate and graduate theses. Throughout his professional career his writing was limited to technical and project-related reports for corporate management, Federal and State agencies and the public. At 70 years old, writing is one of the few things Steven can still do well. He has been diagnosed with dementia brought on by strokes, and is being treated for clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD.
