Stephen Houldsworth ’86 died on April 9, 2025, in Jefferson City, Missouri.

(The following was provided by the Houser-Millard Funeral Directors – Jefferson City on April 21, 2025:)

Stephen Houldsworth ’86

Stephen Houldsworth passed away April 9, 2025, from natural causes. He was suffering from health issues and heart problems for some time, and was trying his best to get better. He was going to the gym, taking all his medications, and losing a ton of weight, but it wasn’t enough. He had heart A-Fib among other issues, and had been to the hospital multiple times in recent years to get his heart beating normally again. As his doctor said, his heart liked to dance instead of march. He wanted to get a pacemaker the next time he went to the hospital, but he didn’t get that chance. Steve passed away at home, doing what he loved — watching shows and playing games. He loved his life and wanted to live as long as his Grandpa Barker, who was 78. Stephen Houldsworth was 61, and previously a teacher at Webster University and a counselor at St. Louis Effort for AIDS. He was extremely active in the St. Louis local art and music scene, and became known along with his husband Graham Matthews as the top music fans in St. Louis, tirelessly documenting live performances with pictures and video. A local celebrity and outspoken activist for all people, Steve spent his life trying to make the world a better place. He was a proud graduate of Bowdoin College, a highly prestigious liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. He was raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, by loving parents, Frank Houldsworth and Virginia Barker, and spent a good deal of time in Boston before moving to St. Louis. He leaves behind a loving and grieving husband, Graham, 39, and three wonderful cats, AaronBurr, Zora, and Chewy. He was preceded in death by their two cats, MuMu and Safi. Rest in power, Stephen, the legend who was larger than life.