Stephen L. Resnick

Stephen L. Resnick died suddenly at the age of seventy-nine in his New York apartment on May 11, 2023. He is survived and mourned by his son Charlie Resnick of NYC, his sister and brother-in-law Marni and Mel Greenberg of Bovina New York, his niece and nephew-in-law, Mija and Tony Almeida of Taunton Massachusetts, his great nephew, Kazumi Almeida, and his legion of friends. He was predeceased by his sister Jill Bresloff and his parents Jane and William. He grew up in Manhattan and spent the summers in Truro on Cape Cod where he learned to sail and swim, passions that he pursued throughout his life.

Steve donated his time and energies to causes that were very important to him including DOROT and Save the Bay. He joined the DOROT Board of Directors in 1986, a non-profit that provides services to the aging population in New York. He was active with building operations and helped secure the DOROT building at 171 West 85th Street. He was a Finance and Operations Committee chair and played an active role in the first building renovation. He was generous with his donations as well as his volunteer time. Steve participated in the annual swim across the Bay from 2011 through 2018 in support of Save the Bay, whose mission was to protect and improve Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. He raised over $10,000 to support the Save the Bay's mission.

For forty years Steve owned and operated the All State Café, an iconic and much beloved restaurant and bar on the Upper West Side. The All State became the model for the bar in the long-running television series Cheers, and was where, according to that shows’ theme song, “Everybody knows your name.” Many of his employees, regular customers, and friends have stories about how this generous and gregarious man comforted and befriended them, entertained and delighted them, and celebrated and mourned with them, as we now celebrate and mourn him. As one friend said upon hearing of his passing, “His epitaph should read, ‘He Never Failed a Friend'".

A memorial service and celebration of his extraordinary life is being planned for later this year.