Dr. Reverend Stephen Marsh Price, 83, of Peterborough, NH, died April 28th from lung cancer, peacefully, at home and just two days after his birthday.

He was surrounded by love and worked up until his last week of life. Despite a ten month terminal diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, he enjoyed every second of the life he loved living.

He will be remembered by everyone who knew him for his incredibly gentle and loving spirit. He took his duties of being a father to all his children very seriously. He loved his entire family fiercely and he will be deeply and profoundly missed by all who knew and loved him. He and his wife Patricia shared an extraordinary love and rich life together for over twenty years.

Stephen was a gifted and sensitive psychotherapist, marriage counselor and a retired Episcopal Priest, and for the past 20 years he has maintained a private practice in Keene and Peterborough.

Psychotherapy was his life’s work and he worked up until the time of his death due to his passion and commitment to the psyche. Steve was also a licensed Pastoral Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. He was a Jungian Analyst and spent the majority of his life studying Jungian thought. Over the course of his life he provided comfort to all those who saw him in a clinical setting and brought peace and growth to many. His clients remember his evenness, compassion and attentiveness as a therapist.

Prior to starting his own practice, he was the executive director of MAPS Counseling Service in Keene and Peterborough, NH. For twenty years he was the founder and executive director of the Counseling and Human Development Center in New York City, a pastoral counseling center with counseling offices in several different New York churches. He was also an Episcopal Priest at St. Bartholomew’s in New York for over twenty years presiding over hundreds of weddings and baptisms. He was particularly proud of the beautiful practice he and Trish independently own in Peterborough and the quality service and care they were able to provide for hundreds of patients.

Stephen was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, his beloved hometown. He graduated from Muskingum College. He received his M.Div. degree from General Theological Seminary in New York, his S.T.M degree in psychiatry and religion from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and his D. Min. degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, MA. Throughout high school and college, Stephen worked extensively in radio and television doing everything from announcing to TV cameraman. He worked at WHIZ in Zanesville, OH, and WGAR, WERE, and KYW in Cleveland, and he helped found the Muskingum College radio station WMCO in 1962. In another life he would have worked in radio.

Stephen Price was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Jane Price, two sisters, Virginia Price, and Melissa Price, along with a brother, Timothy Price. He is survived by his in-laws, Cindy Price (Melissa Price) the Enemarks, as well as Nancy Liebenson Davis and Narayan Liebenson (Jonathan Klate). He was married to Patricia Liebenson-Morse, the love of his life.

He was also married to Susan Johnson, the mother of his two children Angela (Bob Miller) of Lake Placid, New York, and Michael Price (Kathleen Gaffney.) of Brooklyn, New York. Steve was very close with both his biological children, Mike and Angela and was incredibly proud of the adults they’ve become and the beautiful families of their own they’ve built. He is the very proud grandfather of Finley Donahue (18) and Cormac Price (1).

He is the adopted father to Alexis Putzel Palmer of Colorado and Justin Putzel of New Hampshire, and beloved stepfather to Jesse Liebenson-Morse, of Palm Beach, Australia, Kelsey Sobel (Elijah Sobel) of Wentworth, New Hampshire and Sophia Liebenson-Morse (Sean Black) of Salt Lake City, Utah.

In his final year of life after a terminal diagnosis, Dr. Price worked incredibly hard to organize his own death utilizing Act 39 in Vermont. Although he was ultimately too weak to travel, he was very passionate about the need for dignified deaths for all.

The family is incredibly grateful to dear and loyal friends Mary Jo Walker, Sandy and Kevin King and the dedicated team from Bayada Hospice.

He loved National Public Radio, swimming, and cherry pie. He remembered countless memories from his boyhood in Ohio fondly and cherished time at home in the garden. He had an affinity for Switzerland and loved anything sweet, especially fudge. Steve had a deep appreciation for all new technology and loved anything sleek, especially his Tesla.

He particularly loved his home and always had a kind word and gentle smile for all those who were in his presence. In his later years he continued to preside over weddings, marrying his son, Mike and his stepdaughter Kelsey along with many family friends. He also loved motorcycles and in his later life enjoyed riding an e-bike all over. Steve had a deep appreciation for all beauty.

He and Trish particularly loved vacations in Kennebunkport and Anguilla. He will be remembered as an exceptional father, a dedicated spiritual counselor and loving husband.

Steve was an optimist through and through and was never overwhelmed by the obstacles of life. He dreamed big and had energy and zest for life that is an inspiration for all of us. Even during his illness he was a meticulous dresser and wore a button down shirt every day of his life.

Steve lived a life of no regrets and was cherished and adored by his family and community. May his memory be for a blessing.