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Stephen will be missed by friends, golf buddies and work associates alike, but he will be missed most deeply by his family.
Stephen “Steve” Michael James Gutrich of Denver, CO passed away on March 7, 2023 after suffering a heart attack. Steve was born to Tom and Peggy January 24, 1968 - it was quickly apparent to Peggy that she was given more than she bargained for with Stephen, “he’s all I feared and more.” Steve grew up on the baseball fields of SE Denver, making lifelong friends and great memories. As smart as he was opinionated, it comes as no shock the impressive legacy he was able to build.
Stephen graduated from Mullen High School (Class of 1986) where he was an avid athlete and strong student before continuing his studies at the University of Notre Dame, joining his older brother, Peter.
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame (Class of 1990), Steve returned to Colorado where he met Lynne Humphrey and married in 1992. Steve and Lynne had four children and spent time building their life and family across Denver until ultimately achieving the status of empty nesters which allowed them to spend time more together, dodging Spring snow storms by traveling to better golfing weather.
Stephen was a Certified Public Accountant since 1993 and served as a CFO for 20+ years. He began his career in public accounting with Colorado’s largest private accounting firm, Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman (EKS&H), and later served as an Audit Manager for BDO Seidman. He left public accounting in 2004 to provide fractional CFO services for a variety of organizations ranging from commercial flooring and real estate development to online retail and investment management. In 2011, Steve helped acquire a small commercial flooring company that later became C3 Interiors. Alongside his partners and close friends, Michael Buckley and Sean Reiland, they built one of the most recognized companies in the industry. All this being said, Stephen was known for a clean excel spreadsheet and a tidy financial statement - something his clients loved but not always enjoyed by his wife and daughters.
Stephen has been the go-to for the Gutrich family throughout life, and a steadfast caregiver through thick and thin. When Steve’s older brother, Peter, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013, Stephen was by Pete’s side until his too early death in 2015. Peter could not have had a better caregiver, companion or friend than Stephen, the guy you could depend on for things big and small - a trait his family hopes to carry on in his honor.
Stephen enjoyed time with loved ones - whether sitting in the driver’s seat (always) of a golf cart, meeting for an early breakfast with a side of sausage, or laughing over drinks with friends. While his ideal day started before sunrise, he was often seen coming to and from his usual pit stops with his music on full blast. Steve’s laugh was genuine and his time was valuable - and he had a smile and a moment to spare for everyone he ran into. It was not uncommon to get an out of the blue gift from Steve- he was someone who gave his time, attention and gifts to those he valued and he showed that in spades. Stephen believed that time was best spent with his family, especially if it’s nice “patio weather” outside. He always appreciated a good laugh, well-referenced movie quotes and Steve never forgot to check in with his friends/family, even if it was with just a quick text with emojis.
Steve's loved ones - family and friends alike- will remember him whenever they find themselves at a Sunday afternoon matinee or an early breakfast (to beat the rush) that lasts until lunch. Honor Steve by spending a perfect summer afternoon playing golf (extra holes encouraged) with some of your favorite people and telling stories over a few Bacardi Diet Cokes (or Fresca if you are really lucky) ending up on a patio watching the sun go down.
Stephen will be missed by friends, golf buddies and work associates alike, but he will be missed most deeply by his family.
Stephen is survived by his wife of 31 years, Lynne, and their four daughters Kaitlin (30), Alyssa (28), Sarah (24) & Charlotte (22). He is also survived by his mother, Peggy Gutrich, his brother Mark Gutrich and wife Eileen (Crosser) Gutrich (children: Morgan, Hannah, Amanda, Matthew), brother Dan Gutrich and wife Becky (Woodard) Gutrich (children: Isabel, Henry), as well as sister Nancy (Gutrich) Weissert and her husband Jason Weissert (children: Addison, Thomas, Maggie). He is preceded in death by brother Peter Steele Gutrich (1966-2015) and father Thomas Robert Gutrich (1943-2020).
In lieu of a formal service, Stephen’s family will be planning a celebration of life, at a later date, to remember this beloved husband, incredible father, savvy businessman, big brother, and loyal friend. His magnetic personality, strong character and clear adoration for his family will be missed by all who experienced it.
