Beloved, respected and a Manatee High Athletic Hall of Honor inductee, Olsen coached the Hurricanes for 30 years in various sports - e.g., girls basketball and softball - and taught driver's ed.
Something of a Renaissance man, the former Florida State hurdles star and doting grandfather also raised championship show pigeons. He had an impressive collection of baseball cards, including classics such as Babe Ruth in his playing days and Mickey Mantle's autographed 1952 rookie card. He and wife Judy, who also have a son, Stephen Jr., collected decorative Christmas houses, too. And he was a Frank Sinatra devotee, owning albums and 45s of "Ol' Blue Eyes" going back decades.
Olsen, 82, left us Aug. 9, but the memories are many.
Kim, who played basketball for her father, has this corker.
"Dad was always getting technicals," chuckled the '85 alum. "So whoever was sitting by Dad on the bench, it was their job to get him by the back of his pants and keep him off the court and not get another technical. He was passionate."
Compassionate, too.
"Dad hated to cut anybody. If you worked hard, he would find a way to make you part of the team."
A soft touch? Yes. A sap? No.
"Players were his kids. He expected you to make good grades, be a good person. You could be best athlete on team, but if you didn't obey the rules? Your ass was on that bench. Dad wanted to win, but he had principles."
Olsen's empathy went way beyond the basketball court, softball diamond or classroom, too.
"A couple of times we took in girls who were pregnant," said the mother of five. "One girl's parents told her they never wanted to see her again. So she stayed with us for six months and Dad helped pay for all her prenatal care.
"When she gave birth, her parents wanted to come see the baby, but she was real hateful. Dad said, 'Hey, family is family. They were upset with your mistake, they've had six months to think about it. Take the high road. Your child needs grandparents. They're going to forgive you, they're going to take you back and you're going to let them take you back.' They did. He was right every time."
The Celebration of Life is 1 p.m. at 6023 48th Ave. Drive E., Bradenton. RSVP at 904-333-3179.
· Eric Silenzi is 55.
· A bow to those School District of Manatee County Food and Nutrition Services employees with 25 years and more of service: Carrie Beiring, Linda Bell, Anne Mousseau, Ollie Blalock, Michelle Borstelmann, Donna Delesline, Adele Garza, Rosemary Garza, Melissa Lawson, Alicia Lozano, Colette Matthews, Rosalinda Rodriguez, Sam Simmons, Monica Smith, Chriss Thomas, Tania Vidal and Dorothy Williams.
· And Andy Guz, CEO at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center since 2016, was named CEO at Manatee Memorial Hospital-Manatee Health.
Vin's People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at [email protected]. Or call 941-962-5944. X (formerly Twitter): @vinmannix.