In Memory of Steve Tobin

To all his Family and Friends, we will keep you in our hearts and prayers.
With our Deepest Sympathy
your friends at

Southwest Ohio I.A.E.I.

THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME

God looked around his Garden
and found an empty place.
He then looked down upon his
earth and saw your loving face.

He saw your path was difficult
and he closed your weary eyes,
He whispered to you "Peace be Thine"
and gave you wings to fly.

It broke our hearts to lose you,
but you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you
on the day God called you home.

Words cannot describe our thoughts for there is just no way to tell you of the sympathy we deeply feel today...Still, may you find it comforting to know that others truly care and share in this time of sorrow with you.

My Friend

Greetings

If you would like to add something to this Memorial Please call or e-mail me

To My Friend

Monday, October 15, 2001

I met Steve in 1989, we were in Columbus to take the Electrical Inspectors Exam.

He was the type of person that once you met him, the first thing that you like was his personality.

Knowing Steve was a good thing -------------------     From that time on we were Friends

We worked on a great many projects together.

For the past 11 years we have shared our thoughts and ideas ……We have roomed together …. Traveled together … Played and studied Together ---------- We were friends

Steve was an excellent electrical inspector…… His knowledge of the National Electrical Code has been recognized through out the State of Ohio…… If there was an opportunity to discuss a particular code section, Steve was more than willing to be part of the debate.

Steve was a motivator … A teacher … A planner …. I will miss him for I was his Friend

Steve had a saying that he would use from time to time in order to keep me focused…… When there was a contractor or a homeowner that did not understand the importance of proper electrical installation.. He would say “ Now John you have an opportunity to make a friend” and smile.

Through his involvement in electrical education and instruction of proper installation technique…..We will never know haw many injuries or lose of lives that have been prevented……… But most importantly the education that he has spread throughout the industry will be passed on to others in the trade.

I may not be the one that misses you the most …… Because your family loves you very much and they will miss you…… You have a great many friends…… and they will miss you ……. And you have effected the lives of a lot of people ….…

But with all that being said…….. I will miss you Steve because you were my Friend

John Humphrey

Greetings...

Monthly Newsletter
of the
Southwest Division
Ohio Chapter, Western Section,
International Association of Electrical Inspectors

October, 2001
Web Site: www.swohio-iaei.org

GREETINGS

    When I first assumed the duties of “Editor” (and I use that term loosely) of this newsletter many years ago, I noticed that the prior newsletters written by Steve Tobin all began with the word “GREETINGS”. I thought at the time “What a strange way to start a newsletter” but I admit, I kind of liked it so I also began my newsletters with Steve’s word “GREETINGS”.  I think that’s the only part of the newsletter that I didn’t change!

    A few days ago we all said our goodbyes to Steve Tobin. In doing so my heart was flooded with memory after memory of the many hours that I spent with this fine man over the years. I first began attending the “inspectors meetings in Lebanon” in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. When I went to work for IBI in 1983 my employment there prohibited my regularly attending the meetings until 1994. That’s the year that I first met Steve Tobin. I can tell you now that I’ve never known a better man or had a finer friend. When I became a regular attendee of the monthly meetings again, I actively participated in the code discussions and debates. Many of these discussions and debates were with Steve. I won a few and lost a few but he and I always remained focused on the code and on being of service to others. Soon, Steve began to encourage me to do a little more in the SW Division, a little bit at a time. Next thing I knew I was helping with code instruction and serving on the Executive Committee! It seems like it all happened just yesterday. Over the years Steve and I were in constant contact with each other, discussing code issues, bouncing ideas off of each other, solving problems, and having an occasional good laugh at ourselves over some of the situations we could get ourselves (and each other) into. There were no boundaries to our commitment to electrical safety of the public, to the well being of the SW Division, or our friendship. I’m sure gonna miss him. He was one of the “good guys”.

    Steve’s death has left us all with such an empty feeling but I believe that our feelings of great loss, of sadness, and of grief will ease over time because they will surely take a back seat to the many many happy memories of Steve that we will carry with us in our hearts for the rest of our lives. I believe that life is eternal and that when we leave this earth we will go to a better place. We will see our loved ones again. That belief is where I get some peace of mind out of all of this. Someday when it’s my turn, when I wake up in that other place, I bet one of the first words that I hear will be “GREETINGS”. Until then, Steve Tobin. 

Gaylord Poe
President, Southwest Division, IAEI