Bobbi Stevens

To Bobbi's Family

I only knew Bobbi a short time through the Book Club, she quickly became one of my heroines. She was artsy, classy and courageous. May you find comfort in all the memories and art that she left behind. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Rosemarie Rowney

Bobbi was such a warm and wonderful person to know. She was so enthusiastic and friendly, and a mentor to me and many others. I will always remember her bright smile and positive attitude. I treasure the many pieces of her art that I am fortunate to have. She will be missed by so many. She blessed us with her life.

As anyone who knew her, Bobbi was one of a kind. I just want to acknowledge how highly I respected her. I want to wish the best to her family, who I know is reeling right now. I know in the coming weeks you will begin to be able to celebrate her life and her work. All my best wishes to all that she touched.

Bobbi had been in our book club since it's inception. We loved her comments and general enthusiasm and fun. We were all so impressed with how she managed her time with cancer...fun hairstyles, turbans, etc...and then a trip to Indonesia too boot. We will miss her. She was one terrific person.
Lynda Collins

I will really miss Bobbi! In fact, I have been missing her in the studio these past months. Bobbi was a teacher, mentor and friend to me. Sometimes you don't know what little things rub off on you in the clay world until you find yourself using a technique you picked up from them. Bobbi was my first teacher at the Potter's Guild. Later when I became a member, I lab assisted her classes for 3 or 4 semesters. She used to tell me how I knew what she wanted before she asked me for it. At the same time I remember "saving her" as she was having a wonderful time throwing numerous cups one day. I mentioned that she was going to have to trim them all and put handles on them the next day. She said, "Thank-you Cher, I am going to STOP right now!" Bobbi was the very best kiln stacker the Guild will ever have. While stacking I often told her: "Your mind works faster than my body!" I can't help but think that our world as we know it, is a less creative place since she has left it. She was a classy lady and I admire the way she managed herself and moved on to another place.

My family and I were greatly sadden upon hearing of Bobbi's passing. While I haven't seen Bobbi in years, I knew she was a constant - a creator of mystical fired pieces that reflected her own fiery and dramatic nature. Being around Bobbi was always a trip into adventure, pleasure and beauty.

Bobbi was the first person I knew who gave hugs. Everytime I hug someone I think of Bobbi who taught me how good it feels to receive and give hugs.

I admired this exuberant, creative woman greatly and I am pleased to have shared a time past with her.

My prayers are with you Bobbi and the loved ones you leave behind.

Penny Wright-Steele

AGDLE,

This is what I hear every time something goes wrong with a piece I'm working on. I learned this acronym in the very first class I ever took at the Potter's Guild. I smile and relax when I hear Bobbi say it in my ear like she knew I was at a point in my work when as she would put it, "it's easier to start over than fix a mistake".

Bobbi in a word to me is "inspiring". She leaves this feeling with everyone she encounters that you are able to do whatever your spirit wants to. She lived this way; not by choice but rather it was just her being alive. She has done this over and over for me; pushing the boundaries' of my work, cultivating my self awareness and artistic ability, my glaze avoidance and love/hate relationship with it, and her never ending encouragement that I married a "wonderful man".

I have missed her already but I find comfort in knowing I had this amazing person in my life. Bobbi has left an indelible imprint in all of our lives which time cannot erase.

Thank you Bobbi and all the loved ones who shared her life with me,
Carolyn Toomey

I first met Bobbi when we were both students at the Potters Guild about 1959. I remember being impressed by her talent and her enthusiasm. We navigated the difficult workspace in Mrs. Nichols' coach house behind the White Market on William St. for a couple of years together. When the members decided to purchase the present 201 Hill St. property, They decided to increase the membership, and invited five of to be members. Unfortunately, during this time, one day when Bobbi and I were working in the rabbit-warren basement, Bobbi happened to make an unflattering remark about some of the older members. It was overheard by one of them. I whispered to Bobbi,"Pauline is in the next room!!! Bobbi was unconcerned, but soon five of us were invited to be members and she was not included. I was disappointed because I thought she should be a member. Later, when she came back as a student I urged that she should be a member.
I don't know how to how to summarize forty years of collaboation, argument(neither of us gave an inch), sharing of skills, learning (she taught me much), and friendship. We used to love to stack the kiln together. I learned that if Bobbi said some particular piece of pottery would fit in in a particular space, it would, always.
Bobbi remains a special person, and I am grateful for her friendship all of these years. I miss her.
Ellie Shappirio

Bobbi and Brad cultivated many friendships through the years, and we were two of the fortunate ones. Our friendship spans 30 years. We enjoyed dinner parties, opera, cross country skiing, theater, vacations, and sailing trips together. Bobbi was an accomplished well known sculptor/potter, and we are honored to have several of her works in our home. Bobbi, we will miss you, and your memory will live with us forever. Lots of love to Brad and family.
Your long time friends,
Anita & Kurt Lauckner

Bobbi was a special person, and her art was one of the most direct expressions of those special qualities. I sit in my office and I can look over and see her work, which is stimulating and soothing to my patients as well. When I return home in the evening I see more of her work, and remember her creative spirit and unique energy. I am a bit of a Bobbi Stevens collector now, and will always remember her role as a kind of a second mom in my life, and the good times I've had with her and her family. Bobbi is gone now, which makes the world a little emptier, but her work lives on, in the lives of her family, in the feelings of those who remember her, and in her amazing ability to mold shape and color with clay and make me remember her fondly. She lived every day of her life fully and I miss her.

Peter Meiland