By Tommy Acosta
(March 1, 2021)
Yet another Sedona luminary takes his place amongst the stars.
A visionary, publisher, community lightning rod and media professional, Sedona.biz publisher Steve DeVol passed away Friday, February 26, in his home, holding the hand of his beloved wife Suzan, succumbing to kidney disease and heart failure after a valiant battle against them.
For me, it was yet another crushing blow, another loss of a good friend and associate, one whom I both loved and admired; a loss that I am sure will reverberate through the Sedona community he loved and served.
He was vibrant, dedicated, driven by morality and a sense of justice for all, quick to raise his pen against anything or anyone threatening the beauty or stability of our beloved Sedona.
Through his cyber publication Sedona.biz, he provided a new platform for disenfranchised community members seeking an alternate news source, another outlet where they could express their views in, other than in a newspaper that used to be Sedona’s only news source until Sedona.biz came along.
Not only did he provide excellent news coverage through Sedona.biz, but he also led the charge in videotaping important community events and issues, bringing them to the forefront of public awareness not just through words and print.
His passion for truth was second to none. He inspired me to write for Sedona.biz and would never let me forget my roots as a journalist.
He was relentless in making sure my pen did not suffer from “ring rust” and that I write for his publication on a regular basis.
I would not dare to say no to him. He truly was a motivator.
Personally, I not only loved him for the passionate and honest individual he was but admired him for his many abilities and talents expressed in the media world.
He was active in all matters important to the heart of Sedona. He made sure he was involved in the different groups working together to benefit our beautiful community.
His passing is a heavy loss for all who knew him and the community he adored.
According to his biography, Steve’s love for the Sedona area began the moment he stepped off the plane at the small Sedona airport in 1987, leaving behind in California a successful career in Thoroughbred horse racing photography.
From 1987 to 1999, he owned and operated One Hour Photo Express at the “Y”, the first on-site photo lab in Sedona.
He expanded the lab to offer digital imaging services and improved sales by 200% in two years, in part due to his “hands on, whatever it takes” management style and his innovative reconfiguration of the processing workflow.
Involvement in the local community has been one key to his business career. Over the years, he had overseen many media projects in Sedona’s political arena.
Also taking a roll behind the scenes for the Voice of Choice for State Route 179, a non-profit group, he oversaw the radio promotions for the group’s various projects.
He also produced two videos which were pivotal in presenting the group’s view point to the citizens and members of the state government.
He also held the title of secretary for Keep Sedona Beautiful, and subsequently served as the organization’s President.
Steve believed community service is fundamental to living in Sedona.
Producing video and photography in the public arena allowed him the opportunity to not only provide a product that has community benefits but has opened doors to government that might not have otherwise been opened.
Exposure to the inner workings of government demonstrated the value of team work and partnerships with the public and the government.
His community service spanned his entire tenure in Sedona.
Working behind the scenes he dedicatd his time, energy and photo lab resources to the Historical Society of Sedona, Jazz on the Rocks, and Western Americana Week.
His other activities included membership in the Uptown Merchants Association, support for the Sedona movement to incorporate, and various committees on Keep Sedona Beautiful.
His passion and commitment to Sedona was one of his trademarks.
In 1999, Steve launched Sedona Arizona’s first commercial independent television station via the Sedona Channel, which NPG Cable provided distribution on channel 57. The following year, the station was upgraded as a regional cable caster, and relaunched as The Arizona Channel moving to the channel 18 dial position.
The new station became the only local television outlet serving the Verde Valley, and Northern Arizona, for the exception of Gannett Owned NBC affiliate KNAZ-TV 2 in Flagstaff.
The Arizona Channel provided local community news, political talk shows, sports, as well as classic syndicated programming such as The Lucy Show, and Bonanza. In 2001, the station became an affiliate of the national AIN Television Network, and generated income via Ad Tech ‘s new automated TV insertion system.
Serving the station as Owner, and General Manager, he saw advertising revenue in the red rocks becoming more divided.
After increased competition in the marketplace, and several new media entities launching in the area, he decided to move on and explore new projects. The Arizona Channel’s popular online portal continued, as Channel 18 changed ownership, and changed format to a tourist outlet currently known as the Sedona Now Network.
His new direction kept him in the media spotlight, as an independent television producer, creating content from Sedona. Projects included production for the Discovery Health Channel, and the LMNO Cable Group.
Former crosstown competitor KNAZ-TV also hired Steve to supply local news gathering from the Sedona area.
In 2003, Steve took his management skills, and local knowledge into the real estate field, and joined Thunder Mountain Properties.
In the fall of 2005, he signed up for the Zaki Gordon Institute of Independent Film Making and his film “Opera Diva” won best documentary in the student film festival.
“Opera Diva” premiered in the independent film festival circuit at the Sedona International Film Festival in February 2007.
In March 2007 he received another award from the Zaki Gordon Institute for Best Camera for his camera work in “Daddy’s Girl”.
In 2010, Steve took over Sedona.biz and since then it has been Sedona’s best alternative news source.
Though the world has been so dark since Covid19 bedeviled us, killing so many good people, Steve was the kind of person who shown light against the darkness and never gave up for humanity and its betterment.
My way of honoring him and his mission is to keep on writing and using my pen for the betterment of our community and world, as he would have wanted and demanded.
The best way for the community to honor him and his memory is to find a way to keep Sedona.biz alive, accomplished through the continued support of other Sedona writers joining and contributing.
Shine on from the heavens Steve, and know your work continues in the hearts of those you inspired and loved.
Rest in peace, dear friend.
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22 Comments
Steve was not only a huge asset to our community he was a great human being. He will be missed by me and a legion of others.
Thank you Steve for all you have done for us.
Paul Chevalier
I am so saddened to hear of Steve’s passing. He was such a wonderful and talented human being. I got to know Steve very soon after moving here in 1992 and we worked together numerous times over the years on different media projects. I always found Steve to be loving, funny, helpful, smart and just an all around great guy to work with. He and Suzan have done such a great job with Sedona.biz over the years. Thank you Tommy for the beautiful sharing of Steve’s life and accomplishments. Steve you will be missed.
I am so very heartbroken to hear of Steve’s passing. His presence in Sedona was an absolute gift to all of us and he will be deeply, deeply missed. My heart goes out to Suzan and the rest of his family.
Oh, I am so sad to hear of Steve’s passing. He was an amazing individual who gave his heart, his time and his talent to Sedona and the many causes of the people. We worked on so many projects together and Steve always found a way to get things done – he was a true professional and true gentleman.
My heart goes out to Suzan, his wife. This is such sad news for all of us in Sedona. Thank you Steve for all you did and who you were!
I met Steve through his charitable work. He was a man that just couldn’t say ‘no’ to a good cause. We worked together on the Voice of Choice project, and continued to work on many other projects. I would see him filming City council meetings and showing up with his cameras whenever a nonprofit organization asked for his help. Steve did all of the filming for the Mayor’s Art Awards presentation at the Mary Fisher theater several years ago, and the audience was able to enjoy introductions to each nominee through his wonderful video interviews. Steve’s wife was the wind beneath his wings, and worked with him developing Sedona.Biz. He was a close personal friend, and I will miss him so very much.
Steve and I met in college at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara in 1973. I was green and only 20 at the time, and Steve had already been through the service, jobs, and had already learned many of life’s lessons that I had yet to solve. I learned a lot from Steve’s can-do, don’t give up attitude during those years together as best friends and confidents that served me the rest of my life. While I went off to graduate school after we finished at Brooks, we both ended up in the San Francisco Bay Area a few years later, both in different areas of the photography business and continued our friendship right where we’d left off.
I was sorry to see Steve leave for Sedona but his unbridled enthusiasm for the area gave me comfort that he’d be happy there. I know when he found Suzan that he’d found the love of his life, and the final pieces of his life had all come together. Over the years we kept in touch and still managed to get together a couple of times a year.
Steve was a good, hard working man with a big caring heart. I’ll miss Steve with his upbeat, optimistic, positive attitude. His loss will be felt by all who knew him and the community that he cared for so much.
I first met Steve while participating in Voice of Choice, and subsequently we served on the Board of KSB . He will be greatly missed. There is an emptiness that only those who have lost someone close can understand . We shall miss his presence.
Such sad news. My heartfelt condolences to Suzan. Not only was Steve an important voice in our community and someone who helped so many others find their own voices, but he was such a nice, caring, warm person. I am so glad I had the chance to meet him. His passing is a profound loss.
Kathy Kinsella
Tommy, thanks for this wonderful tribute to Steve. I learned a lot about Steve from reading your article and was reminded of things that he touched and all his years here. I first met Steve around 2000 when he had the Arizona TV station on channel 18.
Through the years our paths would cross one way or another and I was always impressed with his passion and focus and determination to make things happen. I remember him having a studio in the complex where Mary Fisher is, and was involved in filming a few interviews there.
But then when he took over Sedona.biz I appreciated his efforts to keep the digital newspaper alive and provide places for advertising and other promotions.
I hope Steve is reading your article and the comments so he can truly appreciate how much he was appreciated and loved.
I hope Susan is able to keep Sedona.biz going. This is the digital age, here to stay.
As a relative newcomer to Sedona and a contributing writer for Sedona.biz, I owe Steve deVol a debt of gratitude for his pioneering journalistic efforts. I was well aware of Steve’s enormous influence for the good of Sedona and I greatly admired his can do approach to creating a second news source here in Sedona that served the community so well in so many different capacities. My condolences to his multitude of friends and to his family, especially Suzan, with whom I worked closely and who has always been a friendly, knowledgeable and reliable source for creative ideas at Sedona.biz. May Steve rest in peace knowing he made a very large and positive contribution at a time and place when and where it was needed.
Steve could always be counted on to listen, give good advice, share ideas, promote through Sedona. Biz. His presence was powerful wherever he was, and Sedona will feel his loss in so many ways. May his new journey be glorious.
An excellent steward for Sedona.
SedonaKind was sad to hear of the passing of Steve DeVol. He was the epitome of our favorite quote “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” So many of us in SedonaKind and other nonprofits have known and worked with Steve and his beloved wife Suzan over the years, and whatever we needed, he always made it possible, and did it with the kindest heart. His photography, videography, and the blessing of Sedona.biz were such gifts to this community. The e-newspaper brought us all factual, meaningful, and necessary information about our town that we couldn’t get elsewhere. Steve, like his newspaper, had no agenda other than the truth. We’re keeping Suzan and his family in our hearts, and will always remember and miss a dear friend.
I am so sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. In our 18years in Sedona we cherished each and every joint effort or causal interaction with Steve. I worked with on Voice of Choice, Joel worked with him to save the Verde River, lastly with him to save the Sedona Center of Yavapai College. We came to know he would always be there to record all the civic events that really mattered. I will miss his humor and his kind manner, and welcoming smile. Steve was truly a mensch for his times and his beloved Sedona and the Verde Valley.. We will truly miss him. The Great Beyond has a new chronicler.
Our warmest thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Susan, and all his family, and dear friends.
So sad to hear about Steve’s passing. He was such a sweet person and I enjoyed working with him on many Sedona projects over the years. Will miss his beautiful blue eyes!
Thank you for this tribute to Steve whose life is an inspiration to community building in Sedona. Steve found so many ways to share his warmth and talents in communication for causes that needed an inspired, professional voice. His life of friendliness and generosity coupled with insight into the needs of our community will be missed. He lent a hand in so many ways, now we must reach out in the same spirit of honest openness.
Oh, no. Another wonderful Sedona icon is gone. This is a lovely tribute to a kind and generous soul. Steve, you will be missed and remembered.
I remember Steve well, and worked with him on many KSB related projects. Also worked with him on some special videos – he was so talented with the camera and I leaned much from him. He was a good friend.
It just never occurs to you that people are going to pass away,……..until they do. Steve was one of those people who I thought would be around for ever, he always seemed so full of life and inspiration and I am shocked and sorry to hear of his passing. He was such a Generous Soul. And had such a big smile and a special kindness, you don’t see very often. I love his paper. He was such an idea man, always encouraging people to try new things with him. He video taped so much of my art work and never asked for a dime. Is there going to be any kind of service for him?
I have known Steve Devol for over 25 years and he was a great friend. We met at the City of Sedona Community Development Department offices when he proposed re-development of an uptown property.
We got to know one another even better when Steve began the Sedona Channel (later the Arizona Channel) in 1999. Steve decided to broadcast Sedona Red Rock High School Scorpions football games and asked if I wanted to do the announcing and play by play. I jumped at the chance and along with my good friend, Dick Deal, we announced Scorpion football for two years and one year of basketball, with Steve being the mastermind, director, producer, camera man and anything else he could think of to make the program a success. We had a blast together broadcasting home games and going on the road with the Scorpions. Oh, the stories I could tell about our road trips!
When Steve purchased Sedona.biz, we again began producing a local sports show called Scorpion Sports, showcasing the sports programs at Red Rock HS and interviewing players and coaches. We would also do comedy……or at least what we both thought was comedy!
Steve had the biggest and warmest heart of anyone I knew! He was genuine, authentic, passionate and compassionate in everything he did. He gave his heart and soul to Sedona! Sedona has lost a legend and I have lost a great friend……..sending positive thoughts and lots of love to Suzan.
Steve was one of my oldest and most cherished friends–since the mid ’70’s. We filmed together in the early days of therapy groups in Tilden Park. As the years went by Steve emerged from behind the camera into the community of Sedona– his careful eye capturing moments of compassion. I recall in his last trip to India he presented the image of a young boy holding a puppy in his arms, awaiting the rabies vaccination. His early profound spiritual Awakenings set a vast creative process within him that in turn has offered service to so many in his community and beyond.
Dear Steve I continue to talk to you as you transition into the great beyond. Travel in peace and with the love of so many to support you on your journey.
And to Suzan, the love of his life, we send our condolences. Many his sparkling deep blue eyes continue to be with you in your memories.
I haven’t known Steve a very long time, and only met him once through Aubrey’s Puja Ceremony retreats in Sebastopol…though that didn’t curtail the depth of character and wisdom that Steve so obviously held and generously shared. The other day, Aubrey and I were on horseback and while looking up into the sky, I noticed 2 lines of clouds left by airplanes. They intersected like an “X” and when we sauntered further down the trail a small, sweet round cloud aligned at the center. It was at that moment I felt Steve’s spirit, felt his generosity, sense of justice…and of peace. We’ll keep offering light and love and a warming air hug to Suzan-
Rest in Power, Steve,
Hiroko