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We have lost another one of our local racers as Steve Lathem passed away last week at the young age of 47... I have no details about what happened etc. as I just found out about this today... As you can see from the Florida Today obituary below, the visitation and service are today... Wish I would have known sooner so I would have been able to post it earlier. Steve and his dad Doug both raced at Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna back in the '80s-90s. Steve ran Sportsman when I first got to know him then he moved up to Late Models. Quite a character but a really nice person that was fun to be around and a pretty darn good driver too. He and his dad ran Doug's Shell in Cocoa for a gazillion years it seems...
Steven Douglas Lathem
Cocoa, FL
Steven Douglas Lathem, 47, of Cocoa, FL passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2016.
He was born on December 17, 1968, in Gainesville, GA to Douglas and Linda Lathem.
Steve Lathem was a larger than life, gentle giant, with an unforgettable smile and an extremely generous heart. He would light up a room just by walking into it and made the world a better place with his being. He adored his children and honored them by being an incredible friend and mentor to all who knew him. He moved with his parents to Cocoa at two years of age and graduated from Cocoa High School in 1986 (GO TIGERS) and went on to study Business Management at the University of Central Florida, after which he carried on his father's legacy by working the family business. In addition to serving on multiple boards, he spent countless hours devoted to charitable works and business associations. He loved racing stock cars in his younger years, hunting, fishing and spending time with friends and family. He was a true business man as well as gentleman and his generosity was not limited to those who knew him intimately.
Mr. Lathem is survived, and will be dearly missed, by his Mother, Linda Lathem, his sisters, Shan Lathem McMillon and Mina Williams, his beautiful children, John and Abbey Lathem, his nieces Madison and Kaitlyn Gillispie and Lana Williams as well as innumerable friends and family. His funeral will be held on September 3, 2016, at Christ Central Church, 2010 N. Cocoa Blvd., Cocoa, FL 32922, with visitation starting at 1 pm followed by a service at 2:00 pm Details regarding a reception immediately following the service will be forthcoming.
Photos:
1) Beverly Grybosh photo of Steve after an OSW Sportsman win in 1988...
2) I took this one of Steve in 1990 with his LM at New Smyrna...
3) Photo that was posted with his obituary this week...
Steven Douglas Lathem
Cocoa, FL
Steven Douglas Lathem, 47, of Cocoa, FL passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2016.
He was born on December 17, 1968, in Gainesville, GA to Douglas and Linda Lathem.
Steve Lathem was a larger than life, gentle giant, with an unforgettable smile and an extremely generous heart. He would light up a room just by walking into it and made the world a better place with his being. He adored his children and honored them by being an incredible friend and mentor to all who knew him. He moved with his parents to Cocoa at two years of age and graduated from Cocoa High School in 1986 (GO TIGERS) and went on to study Business Management at the University of Central Florida, after which he carried on his father's legacy by working the family business. In addition to serving on multiple boards, he spent countless hours devoted to charitable works and business associations. He loved racing stock cars in his younger years, hunting, fishing and spending time with friends and family. He was a true business man as well as gentleman and his generosity was not limited to those who knew him intimately.
Mr. Lathem is survived, and will be dearly missed, by his Mother, Linda Lathem, his sisters, Shan Lathem McMillon and Mina Williams, his beautiful children, John and Abbey Lathem, his nieces Madison and Kaitlyn Gillispie and Lana Williams as well as innumerable friends and family. His funeral will be held on September 3, 2016, at Christ Central Church, 2010 N. Cocoa Blvd., Cocoa, FL 32922, with visitation starting at 1 pm followed by a service at 2:00 pm Details regarding a reception immediately following the service will be forthcoming.
Photos:
1) Beverly Grybosh photo of Steve after an OSW Sportsman win in 1988...
2) I took this one of Steve in 1990 with his LM at New Smyrna...
3) Photo that was posted with his obituary this week...
Attached Files