Just briefly to get out of character.

Today is April 8th.

Stephen Michael McGinnis, age 11, of Hamilton, Ohio died Saturday March 15, 2003 at 2:45 p.m. at Childrens Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio who gave the gift of life through organ donation. He was born on April 8, 1991 in Hamilton, Ohio the son of Kevin M. and Kelly M. (Cox) McGinnis, being educated in St. Peter School and currently a 5th grade student at Lincoln. Steve played basketball for St. Peter’s, baseball for the West Side Little League, loved throwing darts and was a huge fan of WWE wrestling. He is survived by his mother Kelly M. (Erick Mueller) McGinnis of Hamilton; his father Kevin M. McGinnis of West Chester; sister Samantha McGinnis; grandparents Janet Cox of Hamilton, Joseph (Solly) Cox of Las Vegas, Charlene (Jim) Hall of Hamilton, Ed (Terry) McGinnis of Fairfield; great-grandparents Charles and Mary Lou Rook of Hamilton and Ann Cox of Hamilton; Godparents Mark Moriarty and Lynn Payne; special friends Caleb Jenkins, Marty Shelton, Alex Mitchell; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and fellow classmates. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter in Chains Church Thursday March 20, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Timothy Bunch officiating. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Paul R. Young Funeral Home, 3950 Pleasant Avenue, Hamilton. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to the Samantha E. McGinnis Educational Fund %119 Hermay Drive, Hamilton, Ohio 45013. The family wishes to thank the staff of Childrens Hospital especially Chaplain Paul Beckman, Child Life Specialist Kelly Gleason and Life Team Transplant Coordiator Christine Cardwell.
First Published in SWO Classifieds on Mar 18 2003

He was my cousin's little boy. I wish I had known him better but as we are reminded every now and then, life is short. He did like pickles. He'd have liked you to enjoy one too.