Stephen Freeman

Stephen "Steve" Freeman, age 57, died on Friday, November 14th after suffering traumatic injuries from a bicycle accident in Georgetown, Colorado. His dry wit, charisma, charm, creativity and generosity will be missed. Steve was a lifelong resident of New England and had recently moved to Colorado. Raised in Rochester, NH, he attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. A cherished memory was being part of the St. Thomas football team that following two winless seasons, upset a heavily favored Bishop Guertin team 8-7 in the state championship. Many opponents from that game went on to become close friends. Steve continued playing football with a full scholarship to The College of the Holy Cross where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He developed a deep bond with high school classmates recently stating, "After all these years, I still bleed STA blue." He was named Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2005 and inducted into the inaugural class of the "Hall of Honor" in 2010 for athletic and academic achievements and service to both the community and school. In his youth, where he went, chaos typically followed. With buddies Soapee, Raymo, Butch, Fabes, Gilly, Poulis, Hurls and too many others to list, you may not have known they were coming, but you remembered they were there. Steve began a career in the insurance and financial services industry with Prudential in 1980 under the tutelage of sales legend, Ron Lachapelle. As a sales manager, he helped numerous trainees cut their teeth in the insurance industry. He was responsible for supervising as many as 50 representatives at one time and spent many evenings at kitchen tables throughout the Seacoast. He continued his financial services career raising a family in Hampstead, NH and working with Waddell and Reed, National Life of Vermont, and Mass Mutual. He was the owner of Appletree Insurance and recently served as the President of Transitions Financial, a firm dedicated to coaching and recruiting financial advisors. Steve lived an open door life striving to help others. It started with his upbringing living in a small house where his parents did not own a key to lock the door. Each day involved friends lounging on the couch and often staying for dinner. Whether he was coaching kids in a youth basketball, baseball or soccer league, training a new sales rep, or donating his time to a charity, he derived great happiness from the success and smiles of others. He was a two time recipient of the Louis Dublin Award for Community Service from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He believed that to those whom much was given, much was expected. He worked closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, and the March of Dimes. Steve is the son of the late Lawrence and Ann Freeman. He is survived by two children, Matthew and Lauren Freeman of the Greater Boston area, and Deborah Freeman of Manchester, NH. Family includes sisters Cheryl Porelle of Howell NJ, and Lisa Freeman of Georgetown, CO, brothers John and Jim Freeman and Jim's wife Cheryl of Georgetown, MA, nephews Andrew and Adam Freeman, nieces Jordan Porelle, Julianne and Linda Freeman, and numerous aunts and uncles including George Freeman, the running legend of Cobleskill, NY. Family, friends and others are invited to the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St. in Rochester, NH on Sunday, November 23 from 5 pm to 8 PM to reminisce, grieve, support, and of course share war stories of a full life cut short. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, November 24th, at 11 AM at St. Mary's Church, 71 Lowell St., Rochester, NH. Rather than flowers, Steve would have preferred you do an unexpected, unsolicited act of kindness. If creativity eludes you, donations may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 814 Elm St. #300, Manchester, NH 03101