Page created by: Kathryn Everly and Suzanne Everly

Stephan Saylor Everly, MD (Steve) was a loving husband, brother, father, uncle and grandfather who blessed us all with his kindness, humble nature and his gift of music. His battle with Parkinson's was hard fought and he had many active years living with the disease. His courage and positive attitude were remarkable and inspiring.

Music was the one thing that remained a constant in his life. He was blessed with a natural talent for music. It was truly his passion and one that he shared with all who knew him.

Stephan Saylor Everly was born on February 19, 1940 in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a youngster growing up in Indianapolis, Steve was first introduced to music when he took up piano lessons in elementary school. His brother, Ralph, recalled that he was always one of the top students in Mrs. Jarvis’ piano studio. At one point, she gave him the name of another teacher because he surpassed the level she could teach him. He then went on to study jazz piano. In eighth grade he learned how to play the ukulele, which led to learning how to play the guitar and banjo.

Steve developed a love of country and bluegrass music on spring break fishing trips to Kentucky. His dad would take him and his brother to little “mom and pop” places where they would be playing good ol’ country music. Steve would sometimes get up on stage and sing. In high school, he played in a square dance band, playing country music at Broad Ripple Park. His brother recalled the two of them taking the bus to the Lyric Theater in downtown Indianapolis to listen to country bands.

After graduating from Broad Ripple High School, he attended Indiana University. He joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and continued his musical interests by serving as their songleader for three years. When he and SAE brother Jan Hartman performed at the IU Spring Sing, someone from the music industry approached them and offered them a recording contract! His father told him he had to make a choice to be a singer or a doctor.

Steve was set up on a blind date by one of his SAE brothers with Kappa Kappa Gamma Janet Sander, whom he later married in 1962. (There’s a photo of them on the IU SAE website!) Steve graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1964, completed his internship at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and his residency at Marion County General Hospital (now Eskenazi Health). In 1965, Steve and Janet welcomed their son, Steve Jr.

In 1967, he joined the United States Air Force. Captain Everly was stationed at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska and rose to the rank of Major (thus nicknamed “Maj” by his father.) Daughter Kathy was born in Indianapolis in the Fall of 1967 and shortly thereafter, the family joined Steve in Alaska. While working as an anesthesiologist, he kept busy by getting his pilot’s license and continued to play music.

In 1970, the family moved to Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Steve began his 28-year career as an anesthesiologist at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. He served as Chief of Anesthesiology for numerous years and was also involved with heading up the first nurse anesthetist program at North Memorial.

In his free time, he joined a band called The Echo Trail Ramblers that played country and bluegrass tunes. The Echo Trail Ramblers were a group of professionals who came together to play music “for fun” and entertainment. Steve was the lead singer and guitarist. He loved rehearsing and performing with this group. They played at hospital events, church events, private parties and other gigs (including his father-in-law’s 80th birthday party). If you were lucky enough to see him perform in either this group or alone in front of a group of friends, you could see the sheer enjoyment he got from playing.

He shared his love of music with the extended family and friends at “E-Z Retreat”, a cabin his father built on Pelican Lake in Minnesota in 1965. Four generations of Everlys have considered this their summer vacation spot and Steve took immaculate care of the property for everyone’s enjoyment. Steve would lead sing-a-longs at happy hour each day, teaching his kids, nieces, nephews and grandsons country and bluegrass songs. If there was a guitar lying around anywhere, there was a good chance he’d pick it up and start singing. His legacy lives on in his four grandsons who all played music throughout their high school years.

Steve was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2001 at the young age of 61, just three years after retiring. Early on, he educated himself about the disease and was determined to remain as active as possible, as long as possible. He remained optimistic and continued to do the things he loved, playing music and spending time at the family cabin. Steve and Janet had a revolving door at E-Z, hosting family and friends all summer long.

In 2006, Steve and Janet moved back to Indianapolis, near Steve’s brother Ralph and sister Jane. As his symptoms of Parkinson’s progressed, he discovered Rock Steady Boxing classes, special boxing classes for Parkinson’s patients. He looked forward to these classes and was even featured in one of their promotional videos! He took up yoga, and was diligent about doing his daily stretches. He battled the disease with dignity and determination, never complaining.

Steve enjoyed traveling with Janet and the family. His son, Steve Jr. and brother Ralph have many fond memories of taking fishing trips with Steve to Alaska, Cuba, Mexico, British Columbia, the Arctic Circle. He and Janet enjoyed many trips around the world. Even after Steve's Parkinson's diagnosis, he and Janet continued to travel, flying frequently to California to visit Steve Jr.’s family and taking trips to Antarctica, Africa, Europe and Hawaii. In 2012, they took a special trip to the cabin to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

In 2013, Steve and Janet moved to “The Nottingham”, a senior living community in Jamesville, New York, not far from daughter Kathy’s home. Steve would sit down at the piano at The Nottingham, entertaining the residents and guests. When Parkinson’s took over his ability to play the piano, he loved singing songs with his caregivers, who loved singing with him.

Steve passed away on June 22, 2019 after living with Parkinson’s Disease for 18 years. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janet, son Steve Jr. (Suzanne) of Lafayette, California, daughter Kathy (Chris Gascon) of Fayetteville, New York, and four grandsons Kyle and Ryan Everly, and Nico and Lucas Gascon. He is fondly remembered by his brother, Dr. Ralph Everly (Mary) of Carmel, Indiana, sister Jane Manning (Steve) of Indianapolis, Indiana, nephews Trey (Shannon) Everly, Dr. John (Amy) Everly and niece Carol (Chris Miller). His spirit will live on with our family through his music.