Chad Stephens Memorial Fund

There is a giant hole in my heart. I am so sad I can hardly breathe. Yet, I am compelled to tell you about this wonderful person in my life. Chad was my wifes first cousin and her closest realtive. Chad and I were immediately drawn together because at family get-togethers I would stand just on the outside of the inner circle of family, never feeling quite comfortable enough to jump right in the middle. Chad saw this and always spent his time with me on the outer fringe of these hearty get-togethers. It's not that Chad was an outsider. His family loved and accepted him with no strings attached. For whatever reason, Chad couldn't let anyone go it alone. Accept for himself. Over the last 20 years Chad became one of my closest and dearest friends. At get-togethers I would always introduce him as my bodyguard. The reason I did that is because I knew if anything ever happened and I needed back up. Chad would be there. He wouldn't question who was right, or who was wrong. He wouldn't measure the level of danger and decide if he should get involved. Chad would have given his life without pause for any friend. That's why people were drawn to him. He carried a rare sense of honor and devotion one sensed immediately. Now I cry for my loss selfishly. Everyone has lost when a man like Chad is called to heaven. There is a giant hole left behind that can never be filled. Chads tragic death yesterday has ripped my soul and leaves me wondering why? Why Chad? Why now? I guess that's pretty selfish. Chad was certainly prepared for this. I just wasn't. I wasn't prepared to carry on without Chad. All my plans involved Chad. He was the one person I knew would take care of my family if something happened to me. I'll never find that in a person again. I rarely trust any man 100% but (hopefully) we all have one person we would trust with our lives... our legacy. Chad was it for me. I sit here with tears streaming down my face trying to make sense of it all. It happened so fast. Like a flash of light my Wife, my daughter and I are thrown into a total black cloud of sadness - and sometime denial. It's a bad dream I can't wake up from. But it is no dream. Chad is gone. There is no doubt in my mind Chad was prepared for this. He was prepared for everything. At 35 and single Chad had a living will. Chad had recently made peace with God and just last weekend was talking to me about joining a bikers church. He trained himself physically and mentally for whatever might happen in life where he might be called on to lead and defeat any enemy. Chad was a rock. Anyone who died like Chad did might have a last millisecond thought where they might say "Oh my God" or "Oh No." But I know Chad and his last thought was "bring it on." Or "Ok, let's dance." He was fearless. I am so proud Chad was my friend. He has taught me many lessons about character, strength, honor and preparedness and I will carry those traits forward in my life. If you want to know about courage and true character, ask me about Chad Stephens. Chad was tragically killed yesterday when his motorcycle stalled as he was crossing traffic allowing a truck to hit him broadside at approximately 50 mph. Chad leaves behind a legacy that would make any parent or friend proud. He was a man's man. You cannot get through life without the heartbreak or tragedy. So I apologize if I have tried to make my pain greater than anyone elses pain. That is not my goal. I just want to honor a trusted friend you may not have known, but would have appreciated meeting. Chad was 35 years old.