San Jacinto Valley resident, Stephen “Steve” Talley, lost his battle with cancer on Sunday, October 25, 2015, while surrounded by family and friends. He was 62 years old. A memorial service is planned for Friday, October 30, at 2:00 pm at the San Jacinto 412 Church, located at 1450 W. 7th Street, San Jacinto, CA 92583.
Steve was an art teacher with San Jacinto Unified School District (SJUSD), and began his 32-year career at San Jacinto High School in 1983. He had been unable to work regularly with students since 2014. “Steve had an amazing impact on the field of art for the high school, with his students winning countless local, regional, state-wide, and national awards,” said Matt Hixson, SJUSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, “and some of his students’ artwork has appeared in the nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C., in the California state capital, and even in the national media.”
Steve was recognized at the age of 11 professionally for his artistic abilities, and spent over 40 years developing a diversity in technique and mediums that earned him more than 100 awards in various competitions, mainly first place awards or Best in Show. His work has been published and displayed in many prestigious environments, he taught painting at the Art Academy of Los Angeles, and was sought after as a judge, lecturer and demonstrator throughout the country and known internationally.
Steve was an active community member and excellent role model for students. He was an active member of the San Jacinto Education Foundation/Alumni Association (1972 graduate), and helped establish their Art Enrichment Program in 2008 to recognize outstanding student artists at every school site each year. In 2011, the Ed Foundation renamed the program the Stephen Talley Art Enrichment Program, and in 2015, they collaborated with SJUSD to create the Stephen Talley Visual and Performing Arts Hall of Fame to annually honor San Jacinto High School alumni that have excelled and contributed to the field of visual and performing arts. Contributions by awarded alumni are on exhibit in new display cases in the San Jacinto High School theater foyer in the categories of Instrumental Music, Theater Arts, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music.
“I grew up with Steve because his brother was my best friend – I’ve known him my whole life,” said President Jerry Peebles, San Jacinto Education Foundation Board of Directors. “Steve grew up in this town and had a love of art and he was able to transfer that love to our students; he was an amazing man,” noted Peebles.
Many of Steve’s works of art can be seen on the website www.stephentalley.com and the outpouring of sentiment and appreciation of former students has been steady on the Facebook page “Mr. Talley’s Artists Legacy.”