About Steven

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 Steven Elden Trvalik, 26, died in a hiking accident on July 29, 2023. Steven was a resident of Los Altos, California, and he deeply loved the beauty and adventure of the Bay Area. He grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts. He is survived by his parents, Bruce & Mary Trvalik of Arlington; his sisters Arcadia (Cady), Samantha (Sammie), and Ruby (Ru); cousins Isaac Haseltine, Andrew Anderson, and Sarah Anderson; and numerous aunts and uncles. He is also survived by his dearly beloved neighbors and second family, Rock, Jenn, Avery, Nate, Fae and Pete Eisenheim. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Dorothy and Steven Trvalik Sr., of Lyndhurst, Ohio, and his maternal grandparents Arnold and Arcadia Anderson of Rockville, Maryland. 

Steven attended Arlington, Massachusetts Public Schools and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2019. Steven’s whole life was an adventure, from skiing, hiking, and biking to baseball, basketball and sailing; however, it was at WPI that he discovered his deepest passion, climbing. He and his friends completed numerous feats of astonishing athleticism, teamwork, and strength in the great outdoors. Just some of his many incredible accomplishments include summiting Mount Shasta in California, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker in Washington state, and several notable European peaks in the Swiss Alps. 

He thrived as a dedicated mountaineer and adventure lover, but also as a loyal and loving friend. He was always encouraging, and never domineering; he saw others’ light, and brought it to the fore, through his loving, goofy, fun-loving and gentle ways. Steven began his career as a mechanical engineer at Triton Systems in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Most recently Steven was employed as a mechanical engineer at Rani Therapeutics in San Jose, CA, where he made a great impact on several groundbreaking pharmaceutical products that have the potential to change the lives of patients all over the world. 

Steven moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in November 2022; it was a long-awaited dream of his to live in California, and he deeply adored where he lived with all its opportunities for exploration and adventure. Steven lived a life full of humor, fun, adventure, optimism, and gentle kindness. His easy-going nature made him a beloved and cherished brother of Cady, Sammie and Ruby; his humor brought light and laughter to innumerable moments across his 26 years and beyond. His wisdom brought peace, his energy brought adventure, and his kindness brought security and understanding that his loved ones will cherish as an incredible gift forever. Those who love him are heartbroken beyond words that he was taken so soon, and at the prime of his life; but they know that Steven would want them to pursue their own happiness, adventure, and love with the same confidence, fervor and energetic joy that he did. On adventures and excursions, Steven would often offer to carry the backpacks of his friends and family, gifted with the physical strength his height afforded him. 

Let our dear brother, son, and friend guide you, carrying your backpack and walking with you each day to kindness, happiness, and peace, with a gentle smile, laughter, and optimism. To honor Steven’s life, we ask that you love others, practice gentleness, and embrace the potential of each moment. We ask that donations in his memory please be made to the Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue: Friend of Yosemite SAR; or to Project Send It, a 501c(3) non-profit that increases access to safe and community-oriented outdoor recreation for children from underprivileged backgrounds: Project Send It.  

Find the links to these charities on our home page.