Slow is Pro: Where awareness and adventure Cross đ€
Share your Story of Stephen
Our "Share a Story" page is a space for friends, family and supporters to come together and celebrate Stephen by sharing their favorite memories, heartfelt moments and personal stories.
Whether itâs a funny anecdote, a meaningful experience or a moment that captures Stephenâs spirit, we invite you to contribute and keep his legacy alive. You can also upload photos alongside your storiesâones we may feature on the siteâto help paint a fuller picture of the incredible impact Stephen has had on so many lives.
Your words and images will help inspire others and keep the heart of Slow is Pro beating strong.
Slow is Pro: Where awareness and adventure Cross đ€
Your Stories
How can you describe what it meant to have such a wonderful son for 39
blessed years? Stephen Laird Cross, Jr., our only son, was named after his father.
He grew up a very happy child, always getting along with everyone, no matter
what their age. His 3 older sisters adored him and over the years they became
very close and talked almost daily like they were best friends. His passing has
brought intense grief to all of them and canât accept why this senseless tragedy
took their precious brother.
Upon his passing, we learned from all of his friends and associates in the
yachting industry the full description of what he meant to all who knew him;
compassion, love of nature, true devotion to his fiancé Caitie, and limitless
energy to live life to the fullest. He was patient, kind, funny and caring. He had
an incredible ability to connect with people in a way that left a lasting impact.
His friendships werenât just casual, they were deep, meaningful and often
transformative, changing lives. He had an intense desire to connect with each of
them in the most sincere way. He was a âman for othersâ.
My favorite picture on our âStephen Altarâ at our home shows him on a
mountaintop with outstretched arms facing the ocean. His broad shoulders gave
the best hugs no one could forget, and it symbolized his loving arms reaching
out to whoever needed them each day.
When we went down for the memorial, the celebration of life and the amazing
boat flotilla that took place in his honor and the incredible outpouring of love
were overwhelming. His fiancé Caitie drafted a memorial logo which stated
âLive like Steveâ and âNever Miss Oneâ-meaning any opportunity to get out and
experience life to the fullest, to say âSteve would goâ!
Our saddest thoughts are feeling the loss of future years of happiness for our
son. He left behind his soul mate, Caitie, who he was engaged to marry in the
spring. Their future looked so exciting and now she is left with reliving daily the
horrible tragedy that took her love away. Our hearts ache for her so much.
Stephen loved her beyond words he could ever express.
For us as parents, because our family has always been so close, the grief and
painful loss is overwhelming. Flashbacks of testimony about the autopsy,
visualizing our injured son, and steps not taken after the accident by the other
captain, all combine to haunt us continually. He was speeding and literally ran
over Stephen in the dingy. There will never be an excuse as to why Joubert left
the scene of the accident he created, making it one of the worst possible
offenses as a mariner.
Our final trip to Tortola was for the trial, a nightmare-reliving experience we
had to endure daily for over a month. At no time was there any remorse from
the man who killed our son. The Boat owners were also negligent in
providing their employee, Stephen, with the improper lighting on the dingy
which ultimately was the reason for his death.
Our salvation during that time was meeting so many people in Tortola and
Virgin Gorda, especially at Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht Club who knew
Stephen and the accident as if it had happened recently. They remembered the
tragedy witnessed from the upper deck of the Saba Rock restaurant, not far
from them. The outreach of love and support for us was so touching during this
difficult time.
Stephen was the epitome of an awesome captain of his charters. He had endless
feedback from happy guests, describing his attention to detail and living by his
famous quote âSlow is Proâ. He loved providing endless experiences for his
guests of all ages, especially families with children. We are thankful his fiancé,
Caitie, is using âSlow is Pro.orgâ in his memory to promote boating safety and
awareness for the future protection of boat owners, Captains and their guests in
the yachting industry. It is time to update regulations and identify changes
needed to be made in posting proper no-wake zones in high volume areas.
Our son, Stephen, has left his legacy in the fabric and souls of all those he
touched over the years⊠to live each day in Kindness, Compassion and Love!!
Kerry Cross
Stephens Mother
Never in my wildest dreams or a nightmare did I ever think
about losing my son, Stephen, who was my only son, the
youngest of my four children, my friend, and my pride and joy.
I still cannot believe that the person who ran over my son and
killed him was found ânot guiltyâ and was set free. My heart
will never be free of the pain and agony that a boating
accident created for me, my family and hundreds of people
around the world who knew and loved my son.
When he was young, he provided our family with many great
memories, smiles, and never a dull moment. He was and
always will be just the perfect son. I miss you every minute of
each day buddy and will for ever.
If he was asked to sing a song in church for the Christmas Eve
service , there would not be a dry eye in church during his
solo, he could flirt with the prettiest girl at school and not
blush, he would say things that would always just make you
feel awesome and smile, he even had a screen test to be
Dennis the Menace in a feature Hollywood film. He played
many sports, living near the water for most of his life he
became an accomplished surfer, paddle- boarder and free
diver. His yacht guests always enjoyed the lobsters he dove
for and were appreciated at dinner. He also taught himself
how to play the guitar, ukulele, piano and even recorded
some music in Nashville. He was the complete package, plus
he was handsome, kind and very funny.
As he was trying to find himself in college and look into a
career, I told him he should find something he loved, which he
loved growing up on our water front property, boating, fishing
and anything water related. So while he was in college I
suggested he ask the Good Lord for help in his career choice
and he moved to St Thomas and started chasing his dream to
become a Yacht Captain. I told him that whatever he and the
Good Lord decided for him to be, âBe the Very Best you can
Beâ and everything will take care of itself. This slogan became
his life and he did become a world-class captain and more
importantly an MFO, a man for others.
After his death my wife Kerry and I were very pleased to hear
he was reading his Bible on the yacht while taking his guests
for wonderful sailing experiences. He grew strength in his
heart and mind, as he read and highlighted verses and
chapters in the bible that he related to as he experienced all
the wonders of his dream world, that being on the high seas
and experiencing the life he loved.
He did become an incredible Yacht Captain, World-Class
fisherman and what I always prayed for him to become, a
âTrue Gentlemanâ and good Stewart of our planet. He lived
his way to a short life as a man believing in Sustainability,
teaching others how to be protective of our world, be kind to
one another and live life to the MAX. He practiced those
wonderful ideals to everyone in met along the way. He
treated everyone he met like they were the most important,
special person in the world. It didnât matter if that person
worked as a dishwasher or owned the multi-million yacht he
was delivering up to New York. He truly loved everyone and
they loved him back!
I miss you more than you could ever comprehend, I will
always love and cherish the 39 years you were with us. I hope
you are teaching someone up in heaven to catch that dream
marlin or a beautiful trout up in a Georgia mountain stream or
helping a little five year old to catch their first fish.
As we enjoy all of the wonderful memories my son provided
to everyone he knew, the horrible nightmare of November
2022 will haunt me for the rest of my life.
How did this happen, how could someone speeding in a boat
to pick up guests at a world-famous resort run over a dingy
with a captain and six guests going to dinner and leave the
scene of the accident without providing assistance. He left
Captain Stephen with many serious injuries, including a
broken spine, gashes over his body, and all of his major organs
were lacerated do to the other boats propeller pulverizing
Stephenâs organs. I screamed in the courtroom when the
Coroner read how serious his injuries were after mentioning
she was a examining a âperfectly fit young manâ during the
autopsy. I cried out loud in the courtroom when one of the
guests explained after they were all thrown overboard by the
high speed collision they could not immediately find Stephen
until he eventually bobbed up and they pulled him up into
another dingy. With the injuries as to how seriously all of his
organs were pulverized by the propeller of the overtaking
dingy, he had no chance of survival. This launch, driven by a
Cavalierish young captain could not have been going a safe
speed to create all the injuries sustained by Stephen and his
guests. I guess the propeller should have been given a life
sentence if not the captain, who was released on ânot guilty
verdictsâ. Someday I hope to understand, but I know I wonât.
I will continue living this horrible nightmare for ever.
Thank You son for just being you for the 39 wonderful years
our Dear Lord loaned you to the world.
I MISS YOU AND ALWAYS Will Stephen! Love you, Dad
Stephen Cross Sr.
Stephens Father
There's so much in this beautiful life that can't be explained. This tragedy that so many of us are
experiencing is a prime example of that. What's the purpose of taking Stephen from this world
far too early? He had so much to accomplish. So much to see. So much to teach. So much love
to give. So many lobsters to point out so that I could easily dive and grab them. Then there are
things that we can easily explain. The joy that we all felt when we were in Stephen's presence
was simple. It was the purest form of kindness and love there is. He embodied that. He radiated
love and positivity. He loved all of his friends, his family, and his amazing fiancé, Caitie, more
than anything. Since we became friends nearly 30 years ago I can't remember ever having a
bad day with him. No fish? It's all good. "We'll get em next time." Raining during a boat day?
"Free boat wash!" He always found the words to make things beautiful. There are no words to
make this ok but I will forever remember his words and try my best to think to myself, "how
would Steve-O have approached this?" Every time we were together it was an adventure. We
saw the world together and he pushed me to do things I never thought I could. He taught me
things that bring me joy every day. That was Stephen; he was a teacher. In his short life, Steve
lived more than most people could live in five lifetimes. He did it right. If there's one thing we all
take away from this, it's do your best to live like Stephen Laird Cross. If you do that, you will
have a beautiful life. I guarantee it.
Hunter Swindle
Stephens Friend
Stephenâs passion for the water, the islands, and the adventure of life was contagious. He shared his love by teaching others and giving them experiences that truly changed their lives. He changed my life, he taught me so much. He taught me to slow down, to truly be present, and to never take any situation for granted. His legacy can live on to teach future generations about how to enjoy the waters but to make it a safer place for everyone. How wonderful life was, when you were in the world Stephen Cross đđ©” miss you bud
Katie Poe
Stephen's Sister
As I wake up this morning, the realization of you gone sits heavier than anything I have ever felt before. Itâs hard to breathe knowing the one person I always looked for to comfort me in tough times, I canât hold onto. I need you so badly right now Stephen. I donât know what to doâŠand you always knew just what to say while hugging me in those loving arms.
Your love was so strong, it was transformative. You showed me that true unconditional love is showing each other every single day, no matter what. You showed It in all of the little things, like making me a âcoffee or tea?â every morning, or picking flowers on your morning hikes and making me a whole bouquet because they âreminded you of meâ. The moments mid-cooking dinner, when you would just stop everything to slow dance with me in the room, music or not, just to tell me how much you loved me. Always putting out your arm for me to hold on a steep driveway. A million more moments with you just wouldnât be enough đ
But there was so much more. Everything you did, you did with me in mind. I could feel it Stephen. You made SURE I felt how appreciated I was.
And somehow, in our 9 amazing years together, our love grew consistently stronger every day. We had never been more in love than we were the day you passed. I love you so much it physically hurts. Iâm broken. And I canât imagine a life without you. I donât want to.
I look back on our texts, photos and videos and smile, you showed me more love than some people get in a lifetime. It was you, heart on your sleeve, every single day.
I will hold on to every memory you gifted to me. You made my life so beautiful honey. You were such a patient teacher, I looked up to you for everything. Your passion for life, the ocean, fishing, surfing, foiling, being active, your friends and familyâŠyou made me passionate about those things too.
I loved the way you would stop everything just to mind-surf a wave set rolling in, the way you loved your plants and garden, and your constant desire to push yourself to learn new things (your smoker being the most recent).
You left a whole lot of you inside me, I find myself reflecting on how much Iâve changed since we first met. And my god I couldnât be more proud of the person I became⊠because. of. you. Stephen.
I loved harder, swam deeper, learned to fish, dive, sail catamarans and so much moreâŠeverything you did, I wanted to learn, and you taught me with such patience and outpouring of love. You were so proud of me. That feeling I could never explain.
I donât know why they took you from us so soon. And even if they told me the reason, I wouldnât accept it. You had so many more years of teaching and love to share.
You were everything beautiful in this world, Stephen. In MY world. Even if I were to die tomorrow, you gifted me 50 years of love and life in these past 9.
I love you endlessly đđïž
Caitie Rosko
Stephen's Fiancé
Iâm lost for words as I struggle to pen this tribute to speak about Captain Stephen in the past; a man who was blessed with a big beautiful heart, a great personality and a welcoming smile.
Captain Stephen was a man who understood team spirit and that he espoused in the great team player he was and one of the nicest persons to work with.
His warmth, hospitality and generosity made him easy going, kind, beautiful and easy to communicate with, that Itâs difficult to forget his usual responses through text messages; Iâm here waiting with ice cold drink and a big smile- lol.
Iâm saddened at the fact that he is gone and canât help asking myself, how could something so tragic, happen to such a wonderful person, when the world needs more people like him?
Captain Stephen was truly a treasure, a real gem and truly, will be missed.
Gone but not forgotten!
Rest in peace Captain Stephen!
Eulina Lanclos
Charter Guest
I have been struggling to come up with the right words to express my profound sadness at the tragic death of Captain Steve. It is still so unbelievable. Reading all the words, stories, and experiences leave me feeling such a loss for the world to not have him in it. I certainly did not know him as well as others but the times I spent with him or communicating with him made it so obvious what a tremendous person he was. I will try to focus on the happy memories that he provided to us in order to celebrate the life that he lived.
I first met Captain Steve when he captained our catamaran charter in 2017. Our whole family just meshed with him. We were all a little nervous but he made everything easy. We loved our son lobster hunting and coconut hunting with him, our sons swinging on the swing with him, and the best Painkillers he made for us. We loved his and Rachelâs code word for providing distraction and still use it to this day - TURTLE! One of the pictures from the trip is still my screensaver.
I kept in touch with him after that trip and when he was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019 we arranged to meet him in Virginia. We have a cabin close to the trail so we picked him up and fed him and provided a good nightâs sleep and then put him back on the trail with some food and supplies. He loved fishing in the river by our cabin. He loved being with our dog Moose. And he loved our local beer đ
This year we started talking again about another charter - he was going to be our captain again. He was so generous in being willing to help from the island end. I had reserved a bareboat and our last texts were about talking after Thanksgiving to discuss more details. We are so sad that we donât ever get to see him again.
I canât even imagine how Caitie, his family, and friends must be feeling. I hope all can take comfort in each other and all the memories that have been acquired over his short, but well-lived, life. He positively affected the lives of so many people in his time here on earth. It was an honor to have known him.
Shine on Captain Steve. The world will miss you.
Donna Smith
Charter Guest
So many of us are better from knowing and loving you Stephen Cross. You've been such an
inspiration in my life, past and present. Starting my new path in my career you've had my back
the whole way, walking me through doubts and pushing me to achieve greatness. I'm not sure it
will be as great now that I can't bother you for every question or concern, but I know you'll be
watching over me laughing and smiling at every mistake or accomplishment. You will be so
missed by so many whose lives you've touched. You were such a light and positive person.
I'm praying for your family and loved ones who I have no words to describe the heartbreak you
must be going through. Caitie I'm so sorry for your loss. Your love was so rare to see, and such
an inspiration to every couple around you. I will cherish the memories we've had over the years
for the rest of my life.
Owen Aschoff
Captain, Stephens Friend
Hearts are shattered from islands far and wide as so many of us grieve the sudden and
devastating loss of your life Steve-O, a life many of us could only dream of pursuing.
You inspired us all by teaching us how to follow your passion and live every day to the fullest.
Your zest for adventure, positive energy and pure kindness are unmatched.
I am certain you had a profound impact on everyone who had the blessing of knowing you.
We were the lucky ones.
Ryann Elizabeth
Stephens Friend
My heart has been so heavy and I never thought I'd have to be writing something like
this...Stephen Cross was TRULY a one of a kind person. The most genuine, kind, positive,
giving, loving, compassionate soul I have ever met in my entire life. To say the world lost a good
one is an understatement. Seeing the amount of people he impacted throughout his lifetime is
so beautiful. There wasn't one time where you would see steve-o and he wasn't dishing out
compliments, saying something positive or doing something epic. I know these things have
been said about him hundreds of times already but it's the absolute truth. I keep praying we will
wake up from this nightmare. The hardest part of all of this is knowing Caitie lost her soulmate,
her person. They were truly meant for each other. I've never witnessed a love like theirs and his
true devotion and love for her was unmatched. An absolute power couple. My heart aches for
you Caitie. Life really isn't fair and Steve had so much more life to live but he absolutely lived
every day he had to the fullest. I will cherish his friendship for a lifetime and I am blessed to
have known someone as amazing as him. Watch over us my friend, until we meet again.
Rest in paradise
Angela Oakes
Stephens Friend