Stephen Edward Geremia
Stephen Edward Geremia died peacefully on May 10, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California. He was 83 years old.
Born on April 15, 1942, in Providence, Rhode Island, Stephen was the son of Dorothy Townsend Lovell (born 1914 in Washington, DC) and Eduardo Geremia (1912–1986), originally from Vairano Patenora, Caserta, Campania, Italy. After several family moves, Steve eventually settled in Hidden Valley, California. He attended The Webb School, an all-boys boarding school, where he developed a lifelong passion for tennis. He went on to earn a B.A. in Business from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a master’s degree in Business from the University of Southern California.
Steve returned to Ojai, California, where he ran Ladera Citrus Company—his father’s business. He also served on the board of Sunkist. Steve was a member of the Rancheros Vistadores from 1971 until his death. On the ride, he was known as “Hogfat.” Steve went on to coach girls’ soccer at Santa Barbara High School for a number of years, and ultimately returned to his first sporting love—tennis—coaching the Santa Barbara High School tennis teams for 5-6 years. His legacy there remains strong.
Steve’s tennis coaching career can be summed up in these few short sentences by former SBHS soccer coach Aaron Webster, “Shortly after I was hired, I hired Steve to help out with coaching the tennis team, and then he took over for the next 5 years.That first year he came aboard was the best year SBHS had in a real long time, where Steve was promptly heading to CIF games in LA in a limousine, and kicking butt. That’s just the way he rolled! His coaching career reflected how he lived life, to some maybe outrageous, to others passionate.”
Sports were the great throughline of Steve’s life. He possessed a photographic memory, which allowed him to recall every statistic, college, and pre-professional milestone of thousands of athletes. On the radio talk show Talk Back to the Coach, he was known as “Mr. Football,” a colorful host whose encyclopedic knowledge of pro and college players made him a natural recruiter for Berkeley athletics. Whether it was soccer, football, baseball, or tennis, Steve had an uncanny ability to understand the tactical nuances and personal histories of athletes at every level. He brought that same insight and enthusiasm to coaching, touching the lives of many players with his energy, vision, and wholehearted investment in their success.
As a coach, he was as boisterous as he was brilliant—an unforgettable presence on and off the field. Few did as much homework or had a better eye for spotting and nurturing young talent. The close connections he formed with his athletes endured over the years and often grew to include their children, forming a legacy across generations. Son Teddy Geremia reflects that his dad’s favorite quotes were not meant for print.
Steve also had a deep love for cooking, a passion inherited from his Italian heritage. Anyone who visited was greeted with authentic Italian cuisine, made with the same passion he brought to everything else in life.
He had a tremendous love for his family. In his later years, he enjoyed frequent trips to Italy. Family was family to Steve—by blood or by bond, it didn’t matter, his love was the same. His grandson, Gunnar Geremia, was the apple of his eye, to whom he imparted a sense of humor well beyond his years!
Steve was predeceased by his sister, Gail Geremia Parr. He is survived by his son, Teddy Geremia; grandson, Gunnar Geremia; stepdaughters, Tiffany Doré and Natalie Trost; step-granddaughters Ava Doré, Ella Doré, and Vaughn Doré; and niece, Kimberly Townsend Palmer. He is also survived by former wife, Alexandra Geremia, with whom he shared the joy of raising their son, Teddy; and is fondly remembered by former wife, Pam Geremia.
His colorful personality will be missed but never forgotten. Whether as a father, a coach, a husband, or a friend, the number of lives he impacted in the local community is immense.
Special thanks to Tamara Wallop and Leona Gray, who were instrumental in his care, and stayed with him until the moment he passed. Memorial services will be held June 28 from 12:00-4:00 at Glen Annie Golf Course.
