Steve Sostak, a well-known saxophonist and singer, died recently at the age of 49. The reason for death has yet to be revealed. A longtime acquaintance of Sostak, Faye Kolly, paid homage to him on Facebook in a lengthy message, saying:
“I’ve been thinking about how to respect the memory of a long-lost buddy. We haven’t spoken since college, but knowing of his death and seeing the great pain and memories of my friends and friends of friends has hit a raw chord.”
Kolly described Sostak as a “bright light” to those who knew and loved him. Kolly described Sostak as a person who was enthusiastic about music and the band. He was a member who was always eager to play at an Amnesty International letter campaign on campus that they planned. When they modified the lyrics to “It’s a shame about Ray,” Kolly claimed it was one of her favorite college memories. She went on to say:
“Even though I dislike the song, the irony and good nature of the performance still get to me when I hear it. He succeeded well amid a sea of conformity in college and in life. He was always true to himself.”
Kolly requested that everyone contact folks who had been in contact with Steve Sostak for a long time. Kolly went on to explain that everyone will miss him terribly and that his life had a purpose. The post concluded with:
“My heartfelt sympathies to my Facebook pals who may be reading this and are grieving his demise. But you don’t have to know him to remember him. Dial up your contacts and connect with the individuals that are important to you.”
Twitter users pay tribute
Steve Sostak has earned a reputation as a perfect performer throughout the years. When word of his death spread, Twitter was inundated with tributes:
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of @inspirecitizen1 Steve Sostak. I first met him in 2019 at the #SDGs summit in #Shenzhen. I interviewed him that weekend. He inspired me and so many others to make an impact on the world. https://t.co/rUFGgcACiV – Life is too short. pic.twitter.com/wh80CTzJIE
— Kevin O’Shea 🇨🇦 🇯🇵 #EnvironmentalEducation (@MadForMaple) February 7, 2023
Steve Sostak was an integral part of the Chicago band scene for a good while and always a bright spot. Good bands, good guy. He played pickup baseball and on the CMBA Red Sox with a bunch of other music guys, always a good hang there as well. Requiescat.
🎈 https://t.co/amTGkxMLPY— steve albini (@electricalWSOP) February 7, 2023
Steve Sostak lived in Beijing until his death.
Steve Sostak was a co-founder of Inspire Citizens, an organization dedicated to empowering teachers and students to take meaningful action. He enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and started performing at Check Engine alongside Chris Daly.
Sweep The Leg Johnny was formed when the pair relocated to Chicago and met a few more folks, including Scott Ana and Matt Alicea. The band recorded a few albums before splitting up and forming another band, ZZZZ. ZZZZ’s debut album, Palm Reader, was published in 2005, and the band played at various events. For the following several years, Sostak shifted his occupation to teaching. He worked with Inspire Citizens to ignite instructors’ and students’ interests in community and problem-solving by building media and global impact initiatives.
