Obituary for Steven M. Day
August 17, 1982 - February 17, 2022
Steven Mark Day, 39, who grew up in and was devoted to Collinsville, CT, passed peacefully after a short, courageous battle with lung cancer. At 8 years old, Steven picked up his first entrepreneurial gig as a newspaper delivery boy on his bicycle. He bought his friends’ birthday presents with his own money and felt so proud of himself. As a teen, Steven became a member of the Canton Volunteer Fire Department in the roles of firefighter and EMT. He studied and obtained his two Associate’s degrees while mastering his chef skills at various restaurants in the Farmington Valley. At 19, he was dubbed “Wonder Boy” by seasoned chefs, because of his insanely advanced ability to conceptualize and execute exquisite plates as such a young, green chef. During the years prior to, and during his first marriage to Jane Falzarano Day of Simsbury, CT, he co-owned and operated The Village Cafe and Bistro in Canton, CT. This was his life’s greatest work and brought joy and good food to the community from 2007 to 2017. He was a most adored boss at this cozy place, where hundreds of his fans lined up at the door to feel nourished and loved. In the spare moments that he was not behind the flames of the grill, Steven was enamored with planes, and received his pilot’s license. He also flew professional-grade kites for fun. He relaxed tending to his tropical aquarium and growing flowers and food in his gardens while watching Jacques Pepin’s cooking shows. He loved “stimulating the economy” by visiting hundreds of restaurants and travelling on several Mexican “cafe-cations” and conducting 'market research,' as he affectionately referred to it. Aside from cooking for friends and family at his home, he was a huge supporter of his beloved hometown, Collinsville, and the local eateries there. Chef Day sponsored tens of little league baseball teams in town. He had a policy to always say yes to anyone asking for a donation for their raffle, auction or cause. He also owned and operated The Riverpath Cafe in Collinsville. Most recently, Steven was cooking at Goldie’s Eatery in Seymour, CT, where he was adored by the owners, staff and patrons alike.
In addition to wife Karen (Kozakiewicz) Day of Milton, NY and her two daughters, Amy and Scarlet, he leaves behind his parents, Cindy and Ray of Collinsville, CT, brother Kenny, 31, and sister Kelly, 29 of Collinsville, CT. They were his world, and he was their role model, their idol, their beloved big brother. His passing has left countless beautiful memories with the Cote family of Canton/New Hartford, the Hartman Family of Canton/Winsted, and the Falzarano Family of Simsbury.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton. Steven shall lay to rest on the hill there at Collinsville’s Village Cemetery. A graveside gathering will be announced in the spring. Please visit his Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
“I want to live beneath the dirt; Where I'd be free from push and shove like all those swarming up above-- Beneath your heels I'll spend my time.”
Steven Mark Day, 39, who grew up in and was devoted to Collinsville, CT, passed peacefully after a short, courageous battle with lung cancer. At 8 years old, Steven picked up his first entrepreneurial gig as a newspaper delivery boy on his bicycle. He bought his friends’ birthday presents with his own money and felt so proud of himself. As a teen, Steven became a member of the Canton Volunteer Fire Department in the roles of firefighter and EMT. He studied and obtained his two Associate’s degrees while mastering his chef skills at various restaurants in the Farmington Valley. At 19, he was dubbed “Wonder Boy” by seasoned chefs, because of his insanely advanced ability to conceptualize and execute exquisite plates as such a young, green chef. During the years prior to, and during his first marriage to Jane Falzarano Day of Simsbury, CT, he co-owned and operated The Village Cafe and Bistro in Canton, CT. This was his life’s greatest work and brought joy and good food to the community from 2007 to 2017. He was a most adored boss at this cozy place, where hundreds of his fans lined up at the door to feel nourished and loved. In the spare moments that he was not behind the flames of the grill, Steven was enamored with planes, and received his pilot’s license. He also flew professional-grade kites for fun. He relaxed tending to his tropical aquarium and growing flowers and food in his gardens while watching Jacques Pepin’s cooking shows. He loved “stimulating the economy” by visiting hundreds of restaurants and travelling on several Mexican “cafe-cations” and conducting 'market research,' as he affectionately referred to it. Aside from cooking for friends and family at his home, he was a huge supporter of his beloved hometown, Collinsville, and the local eateries there. Chef Day sponsored tens of little league baseball teams in town. He had a policy to always say yes to anyone asking for a donation for their raffle, auction or cause. He also owned and operated The Riverpath Cafe in Collinsville. Most recently, Steven was cooking at Goldie’s Eatery in Seymour, CT, where he was adored by the owners, staff and patrons alike.
In addition to wife Karen (Kozakiewicz) Day of Milton, NY and her two daughters, Amy and Scarlet, he leaves behind his parents, Cindy and Ray of Collinsville, CT, brother Kenny, 31, and sister Kelly, 29 of Collinsville, CT. They were his world, and he was their role model, their idol, their beloved big brother. His passing has left countless beautiful memories with the Cote family of Canton/New Hartford, the Hartman Family of Canton/Winsted, and the Falzarano Family of Simsbury.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton. Steven shall lay to rest on the hill there at Collinsville’s Village Cemetery. A graveside gathering will be announced in the spring. Please visit his Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
“I want to live beneath the dirt; Where I'd be free from push and shove like all those swarming up above-- Beneath your heels I'll spend my time.”