FACES

"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.” The words of William Jennings Bryan penned nearly a century ago may as well have been written for Steve Falck during the 62 years he has walked this earth.

 

For those fortunate enough to know Steve, chances are that not one of them would have a single negative word to say about him. Words like “class,” “charisma” and “character” only scratch the surface when describing someone who has left an indelible mark on the clients he has built homes for, the surfing community he so cherishes, the young student-athletes he coaches and mentors, and, of course, his countless friends and loved ones.

 

During 40 years together in the Berlin area, Steve and his wife, Patty, built their reputation on integrity, hard work and attention to detail. Steve was the innovator behind one of the region’s most successful custom-home businesses, Stephen Falck Construction. Patty, who taught art at Worcester Preparatory School for nine years, transferred her talents and energies into creating TaDa in 1996, which instantly became one of the area’s most popular home décor and accessory boutiques. Factor in two lovely and successful daughters, Blair and Brooke, and son-in-law Joseph Parsons, and the Falck family was riding the crest of a near-picture-perfect existence.

 

Unfortunately, irony often has a way of tapping a person’s shoulder when all seems right with the world. While surfing in 2009 — a sport that Steve has passionately pursued since his youth in Santa Cruz, CA — he fell while riding a wave and was struck by his board, resulting in a ruptured eardrum. His side-effects, most notably a distorted equilibrium, were supposed to improve as his healing progressed. 

 

When they didn’t, Steve sought the opinions of doctors at John’s Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. His subsequent and sudden diagnosis of multiple system atrophy, a rare condition with no known cure that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, shook the Falck family, and the community, to its core.

 

Patients with MSA, often referred to as “Parkinson’s plus,” have widespread damage to the part of the nervous system that controls important functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and sweating, and the typical survival time from diagnosis is seven to nine years.

 

“The diagnosis was like a dagger in my heart,” Patty said. “Yet Steve’s attitude and his sense of humor have been sharpened during this process. Steve’s excellent health prior to the diagnosis has played a significant role in his current condition. His will and his spirit never cease to amaze me.”

 

The same can be said for the community that has rallied around the family that has given them so much. 

 

“I am humbled by the amount of support we’ve received,” Patty said. “Their amazing acts of compassion and generosity help get us through each day.”

 

There have been countless gestures of support — from dinners prepared by neighbors to friends cutting down trees on their property. There have been people like Butch Walters and Paul Willis, who have met Steve at Assateague many mornings at 5:30 am to help their dear friend experience the water again on a specially designed bodyboard with handles donated by John Ashton. Blair said that many Worcester Prep girls lacrosse players, and their parents, continually stop by to inquire about Steve’s health and to make sure their favorite coach will be on the sidelines this spring.

 

Today, the Falck family is building again — building upon the success of TaDa with a new venture, appropriately named TaDa Home, where Steve continues to utilize his creative talents by restoring antique furniture that is sold in the store. 

 

“It’s been so much fun,” Patty said of the family dynamic that occurs through TaDa Home. “Brooke and I go to the auctions to find antiques; Steve then repairs, resurfaces and repurposes the pieces, and Blair and I decorate them artistically. This is something Steve loves to do. It brings me back to the 1970s, when Steve and I owned an antique shop at Shantytown. TaDa Home is a family affair, and we’ll each do anything we can to make it work.”

 

The family is also creating a new tradition with the advent of a foundation designed to generate awareness of MSA, raise funds for research and to offset the inevitable costs of Steve’s future medical expenses. There are a number of fundraisers being planned for next spring and beyond. A portion of the sales from merchandise purchased at TaDa Home benefits the Stephen R. Falck Foundation.

 

There’s another famous quote that claims the greatest use of a life is to spend it doing something that will outlast it. Steve Falck’s building creations certainly have achieved that goal, but his personal legacy will outlast us all.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Name:

Your Email:

Your Comment: