Local bikers commemorate the loss of a dear friend
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

SEEING THE WORLD- Stevie Comstock poses with Diamond Head and Turtle Island in the distance during a recent trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Comstock, who died of Hodgkins lymphoma Aug. 6 at the age of 24, loved to travel and wanted to make the most of the time he had.

Somewhere in the city of Sturgis, S.D., a single red brick awaits the engraving: "In memory of Steve W. Comstock, 4-28-83 to 8-06-07."

Next summer that brick will become part of the Main Street sidewalk in the city that's home to the largest annual biker rally in the country. It will commemorate "Stevie" Comstock's love for motorcycles, his determination to enjoy life and his perseverance while living with Hodgkin's lymphoma for more than seven years.

A young biker from Thousand Oaks, Comstock succumbed to the disease at the age of 24. His father, Steve Comstock Sr.; his mother, Laura; and his 22yearold brother Chris survive him. He also leaves behind a close group of biker friends, many from Simi Valley.

"He was a very caring guy," said Danny McNamee, 23. "He loved all his friends."

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers TICKET TO RIDE- More than 20 local bikers gathered last Saturday morning in a ride to remember Stevie Comstock. A Thousand Oaks resident well-loved in the local biker community, Comstock passed away Aug. 6 after a seven-year battle with Hodgkin's disease. The riders met at Chuy's in Simi Valley and rode together to memorial services.

In October 2006, Kathy and Brent Radley of Simi organized a fundraiser at Chuy's restaurant to help Comstock's family pay his medical bills. Frank Hender, the restaurant's owner, and the closeknit group of bikers pulled together to help take care of the Comstocks.

In the years after he was diagnosed in 2000, Comstock endured three bone marrow transplants and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, Kathy Radley said.

Doctors originally told his parents that Comstock had only a few months to live. Steve Sr. said his son probably lived as long as he did because of the tremendous support he received from his friends

"We had a lot of blessings," his father said. "People were praying for him nonstop. He had people fasting for him."

Stevie Comstock was a symbol of endurance for those close to him. Even during those periods that his illness was at its worst, he was determined to make the most of the time he had. And his family wanted to make sure he didn't miss a thing.

In 2005, father and son were planning to ride their Harleys to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally. Just before they were scheduled to leave, a sewer line broke underneath Stevie Comstock's bedroom, and his father had to stay home to fix it.

Not wanting to miss the rally, Comstock decided to ride to South Dakota by himself. On the way to Sturgis, he crashed his bike.

"He broke his foot and he still finished the ride," said 27yearold Dustin Senella, a friend of the younger Comstock.

He managed to fashion something on his bike to keep his leg elevated all the way to Sturgis, Senella said.

All his Simi Valley friends remember that particular ride because it so perfectly reflected Comstock's personality. Nothing was ever going to get in the way of what he wanted to do.

"People started calling him 'the comeback kid,'" said Steve Sr. "No matter how far he got knocked down, he just kept getting back up."

Fellow riders Lance Fuller and Katrina Sallvin were on their way to Sturgis last week when they caught word of Comstock's passing. Their memory of the 2005 ride prompted them to have the red brick engraved in Comstock's name.

Despite his illness, the young man lived a very active life. He loved to travel, going on road trips with his friends whenever he could. He never neglected his Harley, and he loved to play guitar with his father.

Comstock spoke to the Agoura Hills City Council last October in opposition to a moratorium that would temporarily disallow the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

Even though the city passed the moratorium, Comstock stood his ground on the matter and his family supported him.

"The pot was what was making him able to eat," his father said. "There's morphine to kill the pain, but it's the pot that makes you feel better."

Under hospice care for the second half of 2006, Comstock showed signs of improvement earlier this year after his father gave him regular treatments of calcium, antioxidants and other natural supplements.

However, his physical condition took a turn for the worse after a debilitating car accident in January. It left him very weak, and the disease continued to progress.

To honor Comstock, on the morning of Aug. 11, those same friends who came through for him in October 2006 gathered at Chuy's West once again. Together they rode in a procession to the Comstock home in Thousand Oaks, picked up Comstock's family and rode to the Church of Latter-day Saints on Erbes Road for his funeral.

During the service, more than 100 bikes were parked outside.

"There were a lot of motorcycles, neighbors, loved ones, relatives and friends," said Steve Sr. "He's gone . . . but not forgotten."

To contribute to Stevie Comstock's Memorial Fund, call Steve or Laura Comstock at (805) 496-1301.