Stephen Michael Guion passed away unexpectedly at home on December 7, 2023. He was 63 years old. Steve was born on April 10, 1960, in East Orange, New Jersey, the son of Clifford and Violet Guion.
Steve grew up in New Milford, New Jersey, with his three siblings, Cliff, Jeff, and Diane. In 1983, he enlisted in the Army with his brother Jeff, greatly welcoming the opportunity to jump out of airplanes, despite his fear of heights. Highly acclaimed for his performance, he worked his way up through the ranks from Ranger to Sergeant Major, joining the Vermont National Guard in 1992 as squad leader in the Mountain Infantry Battalion. Twice he volunteered for active duty deployment in Afghanistan, first in 2003, and again in 2009. He finished out his military career in 2019 after 36 years of dedicated service, and was awarded the Legion of Merit in addition to a number of other medals for his outstanding achievements and transformative leadership.
In addition to his time with the military, Steve maintained his licensing as a Master Plumber. After a short time in commercial plumbing, he spent many years working for Ward’s Plumbing and Heating. For the joy of the work and the closeness of community, he continuously helped friends and family with house projects over the years and his handiwork is well-known in many homes across the Mad River Valley.
In 1987, for the love of snow, skiing, and shoveling out cars, he moved to Waitsfield, Vermont. Mary Ellen joined him a year later and they married on October 21, 1989, with a reception at the Mad River Glen Base Box, a celebration still talked about today. They built a house in the woods together, a place he would call home until his passing, and it is there that they raised a beautiful family and created countless, unforgettable memories. Family meant everything to Steve, and his love for his wife and children, which only grew stronger over time, guided every decision he made in life.
Steve was happiest when spending time with his kiddos -- building bonfires, watching The Flintstones (yabba dabba do!), and taking foliage rides up the Single Chair at Mad River Glen every October. In addition, his devotion to Mary Ellen created a life full of musical experiences for the two of them, including attending an impressive range of bluegrass festivals, anniversary trips to Ireland to relish in pub music and pints of Guinness, and sitting on their freshly finished porch discussing their next Grey Fox camping trip, quoting The Quiet Man, and playing guitar together. Mary Ellen was Steve’s best friend. They brought out the best in each other and supported one another in every aspect of life.
Steve is survived by his extraordinary family, including his wife of 34 years, Mary Ellen; daughters, Janice and Tracy; son, Stephen; siblings, Cliff, Jeff, and Diane and their loving spouses; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom he adored very much. His love is eternal, and we will all hold him in our hearts for the rest of time.
In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe has been set up to help the Guion family with the costs of this sudden and unexpected loss. Any donations are greatly appreciated. Please find the link: https://gofund.me/73002528. We, the Guion family, are incredibly grateful for the care and support we have been receiving from our communities at this difficult time.
There will be a memorial service for Steve on Wednesday, December 20, at the Round Barn from 3 to 6 p.m.
