I met Stephen in 1995 when we both landed on the Thracian shores of "Hecuba" at ACT -- he as Polymestor, I as part of the Greek Chorus created by KITKA (an Eastern European Vocal Ensemble based in Oakland). We moved to Los Angeles together in 1999 and got married on 10/4 (good buddy)/2003 because, as Stephen loved to misquote, "In Heaven it must be October always" (attributing it to John Donne, who actually said, "In Heaven it is always Autumn"). We greeted our daughter, born Alexandra Josephine Dietrich Markle, on 7/28/2004, now called Melody. Stephen was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease when Alexandra was 9 months old, and while his disease's progression was relatively slow, it became the central dysfunction of our lives and defined our growth as a family. Stephen was able to continue acting until his episode on "House," after which he poured his passions into writing. I am hoping to edit a final version of his play featuring Zeus as a man on Earth interacting with God and Jesus, as well as his wife, Hera (very clearly modeled after the household harpy but wise nature in me). After Stephen broke his back digging up an old lawn in January 2018, I became full-time caregiver to him until his passing in bed at home on November 6th. It was both a nightmare and an honor to take on the role of final usher and witness to Stephen's last year in this plane. His inability to wander forced a stillness to our marriage that allowed for wounds to heal and tender moments to thrive. I will always remember the many sides of Stephen's personality and am grateful to have seen him act, to have heard his delighted laughter, his warm voice, his inexplicable harmonies, to have read his stunning poetry and evocative prose, to have participated in parenting a unique and gifted child with him while he could, to have enjoyed many aspects of nature, art, and food with him, and ultimately to have been present to hold him in my arms while he was relieved of his broken body, soul made free. Thank you, Stephen, for almost 20 years of life I will never forget.
