Steven C. Kauffman
August 3, 1959 - February 15, 2022

"Steve and I met through Hope Fellowship church and a men's Bible Study. As fellow Air Force veterans, we were members of the American Legion together, started a Chapter of the American Legion Riders together and rode motorcycles together for charities and to honor veterans. Partially because of Steve, we shared a fondness for the Boxer breed as dog owners. Early on Steve invited me to his "Saturday Men's Breakfast Club" that he spearheaded. We shared some laughs and good natured ribbing about the OU/UT rivalry as well as he was a huge OU fan. Steve was a friend you could count on and trust. I will miss you here on Earth friend. but know you are in Glory."

"Not only was he my Identical Twin Brother, he was my best friend, one who I never had to doubt that he had my back, loved me unconditionally, and more than anything believed that family was the most important thing in life next to God. As much as my heart and head know I will never be able to speak with him again in flesh, his eternal spirit will never leave me, and I will always have that to lean on, seek comfort from, and know that he is having an absolute blast right now. He was a phenomenal husband, father, and to so many a friend. It would be impossible to number the lives he has touched, but what I know is this: we shared a bond and that bond will never broken even after half this duo is no longer present in life. I truly believe in the perfection of our Creator, and although I will never forget my brother, never stop loving him, I will always be thankful that we were the ?Twins?. Steve has raised his arms to heaven, they have welcomed him in, and now we can rejoice that he now knows the biggest mystery of life: what is on the other side. All my love to you my dear sweet brother, we will always be apart of each other . Rest, fly with the Eagles, and thanks for your continued presence."

"Steve was the best friend I ever had. We spend years sharing events in our lives, praying one for another. I will never forget him. Now Steve, we once talked about glory, now you walk the eternal streets of Heaven. No pain, no tears. Now you see Christ face to face. "

"I was introduced to Steve only in mid-December by my friend Jim ?Gweed? McMichael. I had but that one meeting with Steve, in the hospital, and solo, due to COVID. I wondered how it would go: meeting a friend of a friend; no prior introduction, although a connection as Air Force officers, and recently dealing with cancer of a family member. Over many years of flying over Iraq, I may have spoken with Steve over the radio?.no way to say for sure. I thought I might be in his room for a few minutes, and hoped it would not be awkward. Instead, I stayed for nearly half an hour. Steve made me feel like a life-long friend from the start. We talked about flying, the Air Force, history, medicine, treatment options?.and God. What was readily apparent within moments was both the strength of Steve?s intellect, the depth of his heart, his love of his family, and the fortitude of his Faith. I easily would have stayed longer, had the doctors not arrived (as well as Julie), and it was protocol for me to go. Steve and I exchanged contact info, and over the next few weeks, I sent him various bits of flying remembrances, medical strategies, and just words of encouragement. Lord Tennyson said ?It is better to have loved and lost, than to not have loved at all.? The same could be said for friendships. Having known Steve for a scant two months, I too now bear the loss of his passing. But I also carry the memory of a brief friendship of an exceptional human being, and I am ever so glad to have met him. Silver 7, cleared for takeoff. Fly heading 270 and climb unrestricted. Proceed on-course when able. Departure frequency 269.4 And: do one more roll, Hawkeye. See you on the other side, my friend. -Bruce ?Spike? Benyshek "

"I first spoke with Steve 31 years ago when he was known as ?Silver 7? and I found him while checking in on 391.25 MHz on my UHF radio. He was sitting in the belly of his E-3 Sentry AWACS jet perch high out of harms way and I was a little supersonic armed shiny object on his radar screen in search of an airborne Texaco. I had many similar discussions with him during that period. Sometimes he would respond ?cleared as fragged? or ?cleared for the merge nose hot? or just double click his microphone switch. Fond memories all. Fast forward to 2001, I was at a networking event at the SMU campus in Plano, TX where I was introduced to him. We immediately hit it off which was unusual in that I was a pilot and Longhorn while he was an Air Battle Manager/Controller and Sooner. We traded call signs and air space locations to discover he had been the one providing controller services or ABM to me during the Storm. Within weeks we became friends and that morphed into best friends which lasted 21 years. During our friendship we spawned many ideas for technology, created a business and even applied for two US Patents. We traveled together and even briefed the Director of the FAA together. Never a dull moment. Steve ?Hawkeye? Kauffman influenced my life. Hawkeye demonstrated to the world he had character and was the epitome of being an officer and gentleman. Steve dripped in humility though I?m sure deep down inside he knew he was the smartest person in the room when he was around me. I had the honor and privilege of sharing his last days with him. I loved Hawkeye like a brother. I end with my slow salute, a nickel on the grass and a toast of JerWeed for you brother. -Gweed"