Kim and family,
I am sorry for your loss. All of us at our 50th reunion were told and saddened us and that fact you couldn't join us. I hope all of your best memories of your life together are remembered and married 44 years to boot is a testament to you and your husband.  Take care. Mary Anne Hunter.

Mr. Semo was a great teacher and coach. Sending love, prayers and strength to Mrs. Semo, my 3rd grade best teacher, and to family, with love.

When Mr. Como took the Principal job at North School, I had the honor of taking over his 4th grade math class as part of my student teaching. He was a wonderful educator that I learned a lot from. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

He and Kim coached. They were a great example to me of how a marriage worked and they made me love basketball.

He always liked to laugh and have a good time after the games.

Awards Banquet. Mr. Semo definitely made you leave feeling better than when you arrived. He was our sideline cheerleader because he believed we could perform our best.

He was a good teacher and a great supervisor. Always doing different activities with the students he worked with he be greatly missed. Denise Williams

Mr Semo, you were one of my favorite teachers, you helped me understand math, you were patient and understanding even when I was getting so frustrated. I am so grateful and honored to have had you as a teacher. RiP Semo, you will b missed!

Steve was a wonderful, funny human being who didn’t take himself too serious. His teaching was innovative, interactive and just plain fun. My kids didn’t know how much they learned from him because he was such a good time and have fond memories of him.. The community of Coolidge has been forever blessed by his wit and wisdom.

Mr. Semo was my math triage teacher when I was in the 5th grade and was my homeroom teacher the following year in 6th grade. Mr. Semo was my favorite teacher I ever had. He always brought a great environment in his classroom and it was always a pleasure to be his student. About 5 months after the 6th grade year ended I was diagnosed with leukemia and he came to visit me in the hospital the day after my diagnosis. He would come visit me many times during my hospital stays and we would stay in touch everyday and he would always check in and make sure I was doing ok. He was in many ways a father figure in my life. The last time I saw him was two years ago when he came to my high school graduation. He will always have a special place in my heart and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.

From Teacher to Colleague: Remembering Steve Semo 
Part 2
By the time I graduated, Steve had become the assistant principal at North School. He practically hired me on the spot. That’s the kind of trust and belief he had in me. He is one of the main reasons I became a teacher. Over the next several years, Steve was not just my principal; he was my mentor. He took me under his wing.
At one point I was asked what I was doing to get such great test scores from my students. As a new teacher, I didn’t even realize my students were doing so well! I had no special strategy—I just did what Steve told me to do when he met with me weekly,  His support and guidance made all the difference in those early years.
While many teachers describe their first year as stressful and overwhelming, I still believe that my first year was my best—largely thanks to Steve. Over the years, our schools were reconfigured, and I found myself working under Steve again, at West School, where he was my principal. His love and energy were always at the forefront, and I remember that he never stopped moving—or talking. Both were nearly impossible to keep up with! He walked and talked so fast, it felt like a race just trying to keep up.
One of the things that still brings a smile to my face was Steve’s memorable announcements. Whenever there was a late bus, he'd say  something like, "We have a late bus today, yellow duck is late today, quack quack quack, yellow duck!" And in true Steve fashion, he’d deliver it with lightning speed and great enthusiasm. These unforgettable moments were part of what made Steve such a beloved figure. 
As I reflect on these cherished memories, I am deeply saddened by Steve’s passing. His His zest for life, his relentless passion for teaching, his unique quirks, and his permed hair will never be forgotten. There’s a saying: “2teach + 2touch lives = 4ever,” and Steve embodied that. He touched countless lives, mine included, and his legacy will truly live on forever.

From Teacher to Colleague: Remembering Steve Semo by Diane (Self) Thompson
Part 1
I first met Steve Semo when I was a junior high student, sitting in his math class. Math had always been my favorite subject, and Steve only deepened my love for it with his patient teaching and positive influence. But it wasn’t just in math that Steve left his mark. He also taught co-ed physical education, where his humor and unique approach made even the most mundane exercises fun.
One memory stands out vividly: in PE, Steve decided that we should practice dribbling basketballs—while keeping our eyes closed. To ensure we followed instructions, he would run back and forth across the gym, frantically waving his hands in front of our faces. We had to trust that we wouldn’t collide with each other or the gym walls! At one point, Steve’s hand brushed my nose, startling me out of my concentration. It was moments like this—his playfulness and unexpected ways of engaging us—that made him stand apart from the other teachers.
Years later, I found myself as a preschool teacher at Headstart, and fate would bring us back together in an entirely new setting. Steve was now teaching 4th grade, and he brought his students over to my classroom to be reading buddies with my preschoolers. Watching the older children read to my students was a joy, but what made it truly special was reconnecting with a former teacher, now as an adult and colleague. We would stand to the side, chatting and catching up while our students interacted, read, and played together.
During one of those conversations, Steve asked me why I wouldn’t return to school to become what he called a “real teacher,” teasing me with the promise of “big bucks.” We laughed about it, but his encouragement stuck with me. Eventually, I took his advice and returned to school to get my teaching degree.

Kim, Randi, &Colby,

I am so sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. He was an amazing person. He had the biggest heart. He was the best principal I ever worked for. He always backed his staff and was there for the kids. I was always amazed how hands on he was as a principal, and how he knew all the kids. The world is a sadder place without him in it. He always had a smile and a caring heart! Sending you hugs and prayers!
Love,
Amanda Segura

My  deepest condolences to Steve's family . 
Steve and I went to school together at Tri-Valley, Grahamsville NY.
Steve was a good person and friend.
RIP Steve. The world is a lesser place now
Keith and Melodie  LaHanko

Mr. Semo was my high school basketball coach but was also a long-time family friend and colleague to my father. From the time I was in 6th grade, he would come down and ask me to play summer ball with the high school team. I was so intimidated but he encouraged me to stay out there, work hard, and improve my skills. His kindness, understanding, and genuine interest in the betterment of his students and players made him one of the most remarkable people in my life at that time. I am forever a better educator and person having known him. Kim and family, thank you for sharing him with us and so many Coolidge families. His life was an impact few others have.

Mr. Semo was my 4th grade teacher, my favorite elementary teacher and the first to spark my love for math. At recess, he would play flag football with us, and as the only girl who would ever play, he’d let me be the all time quarterback. He never discouraged me from wanting to compete with the boys in any sport. He was an amazing educator, coach and human being. I have so many fond memories of him and being a part of his class. My sincere and deepest condolences to his family. You are in my prayers.
Shelby Moody (Delbridge)

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Stephen Michael Semo

13 mars 1956 – 12 septembre 2024

Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery

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