Stephen Baio, BHS 1970

Stephen Baio, beloved father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend, died on January 24, 2019 in Las Vegas with his family by his side after a short battle with aggressive lymphoma. He was 67. Stephen will be remembered for his unwavering love and devotion to his family and friends. 

Stephen was born on August 16, 1951 in Chicago and moved to Burbank in 1964. He attended Luther Burbank Junior High, Burbank High, and graduated from Burroughs High in 1970. He studied stage design at Glendale College. Stephen married Toni Ann Celentano on February 15, 1975 in Burbank and they had a son, Andrew, in 1977. They divorced in 1981 and remained close friends until his death.

Stephen's career in the entertainment industry spans over three decades. During the 1980s, he worked as a stage production manager on the Sunset Strip, managing shows at the Whisky a Go-Go and The Roxy. Stephen also worked as part of the road crew for musical acts, touring with Los Lobos, Mr. Big, Rubber City Rebels, The Plimsouls, and The Rembrandts. He later worked as a production manager for Show Motion Design and oversaw projects for Disney, including the Indiana Jones Ride, and a laser maze game that took him to Japan. 

In 2003, he relocated to Las Vegas. Stephen was respected and admired by all who knew and worked with him for his loyalty, passion, and sense of humor. He was dedicated to his family and treasured spending time with those he loved. He cherished and nurtured friendships from high school to the present and never forgot a holiday or life event. Friends say he had a heart of gold. He was most proud of his son and loved sharing stories of his accomplishments. 

Stephen is survived by his mother, Teresa; son, Andrew and his wife, Ami; brother, Anthony; and grandson, Eliot. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2,

2019 at 10 a.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Church at 133 N. 5th St. in Burbank. Stephen loved to camp and fish in the mountains and has requested his ashes be scattered over the High Sierras in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stephen's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Published in The Burbank Leader on Jan. 30, 2019