Stephen Barret Everett
June 7, 1946 ~ October 7, 2025
Stephen Barret Everett, born June 7, 1946, in Bradenton, Florida, to C.M. and Lucille Everett,
passed away on October 7, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida.
Steve Everett was an educator, mentor, and role model to thousands of young people throughout
his career. Teaching was his heart and his reason. Rather than pursuing a PhD, he earned two
master’s degrees from the University of Florida, choosing to remain accessible as a high school
teacher rather than price himself out of the classroom.
Raised by his parents, C.M. and Lucille, Steve grew up in Palmetto, Florida, where his formative
years were marked by active participation in student government and a love of music, animals,
and medicine. He took part in his high school student council all four years, serving as vice
president in his junior year. A talented drummer, he was drum major of the high school band his
senior year and received numerous academic honors, including the American Legion Award.
While attending Manatee County Junior College, he became involved with Manatee County
Emergency Medical Services.
Steve apprenticed with Dr. Hank Richter, a local large animal veterinarian, and trained as an
Emergency Medical Technician. He continued in emergency medicine during his university
years at the University of Florida, riding ambulances as a driver and EMT well into later life—
often balancing nights in emergency care with days teaching high school.
Early in his career, Steve moved to Orange Park, Florida, and later to Gainesville, continuing his
lifelong dedication to education, service, and mentorship. While teaching high school by day,
and often driving ambulances at night, Steve found time to teach EMS classes in the evening at
Santa Fe College. During the summer he taught Science Quest at UF, an immersive program for
high school students focused on the physical sciences.
A man of deep Faith, Steve was raised by a father, C.M. Everett, who served as a deacon in the
Baptist church. As an adult, Steve shied away from organized religion, choosing instead to live
his Faith through action. His deeds reflected his convictions, and the woods, wetlands, caves,
mountains, and rivers were his cathedral.
Steve is survived by his cousin, Jeff Pigott, and was embraced as family by many, especially the
Richter family, who claimed him as one of their own. He was deeply involved in numerous
projects—most centered on young people, wildlife, and the environment. Steve’s passion for
photography, particularly wildlife photography, reflected his lifelong respect for nature and his
desire to capture the beauty of the world he so cherished.
Steve is also survived by his beloved dog, Mama Cass, who is currently under the care of the
Humane Society of North Central Florida, and is available for adoption. In Lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the Humane Society in support of her care and in Steve’s memory.
Steve’s memorial will be announced at a later date. He will be remembered by hundreds for his
kindness, generosity, and his mission to instill wonder, curiosity, and reverence for our planet in
his students and all who knew him.
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Those of us that had you as a teacher are grateful for the lessons you shared about nature. Thank you for seeing that same passion for protecting wild places in me and talking to me straight. Thank you for always looking for lost souls and helping them find a better path. May your spirit run free and eternal light shine on you always.
Uncle “Big Dude” I miss you greatly! Thank you for always making yourself available for a chat or a bite to eat. I dearly miss sitting in your EMT class at night, catching up with each other over a meal, your endless knowledge of the natural world, and your great sense of humor. You touched so many lives and always offered the best advice in life. Love you <3
Mr. Everett’s environmental science class was truly one of the most memorable of my life. His profound knowledge and passion for the seemingly commonplace woods and trails—even those surrounding Eastside’s campus—sparked in me an indelible pride for my hometown and a lasting thirst to learn more about our springs, hammocks, and prairies.
He was also wickedly funny. I can still picture his wry grin while he teased us. Equally memorable was his famous, and often amusing, disgust with large corporations, like his favorite target, “The Rat” (Disney), for their consumption of shared resources. I can still hear his growl to this day.
Thank you, Mr. Everett. I hope you rest in peace.
Mr. Everett, for over 25 years you inspired, encouraged, excited, and prepared hundreds of students and teachers to learn and love environmental science in summer programs in the UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training. Although a self-proclaimed “curmudgeon”, you were one of the kindest and most impactful mentors and teachers I have ever known– you always knew exactly who needed a word of encouragement, a boost of confidence, a bit of wry humor, an honest conversation, or a challenge to face and fix a problem, either personal or environmental. You introduced so many to the incredible natural resources surrounding us by so many learning experiences, from following the flow of water from rain thru aquifer to springs, to love of beavers, turtles, and all wildlife, to all matters related to maintaining a healthy environment. Your curiosity and amazing knowledge of nature, and your ability to share your love of it, were contagious! Your summer programs inspired thousands of kids through classroom experiments and projects you taught Florida teachers, and many of your program students were directly influenced to pursue environmental science college and career paths. Your legacy is far-reaching with the many lives you helped to shape through the meaningful roles you filled in formal and informal education. You will be deeply missed by UF CPET faculty, staff, and students as a teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend.