I am reposting this article to mark the death of Stephen Dyer Myers, 24 June 2016. Top photo: Sunrise over Lake Tahoe.
In an earlier post, I mentioned the only child of my great-uncle Frank Colby Myers. After discovering that the son was still alive, in an assisted living facility in northern California, I managed to speak with his friend and business partner, Margie Kovarik-Maxhimer. Margie gave me an extensive life-history of cousin Steve, and assured me that he would approve of my posting it here, where I am adding details from other sources.
Stephen Dyer Myers was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 07 July, 1921, to Frank Colby Myers and Mildred Dyer [Myers]. Soon thereafter, the family settled in Oakland, California, where Frank worked for many years as a city engineer, in addition to his career as a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Marines and Marine Reserves.
Stephen completed undergraduate studies at U.C. Berkeley, hurrying to finish in three years as World War 2 approached. He was not admitted to Naval ROTC, so could not follow in his father’s footsteps in the U.S. Marine Corps. Instead, he joined the Army, and served as a paratrooper in the European theater. I guess that must be pretty much the equivalent of the Marines when it comes to toughness. Margie attributed Steve’s later success in civilian life partly to the attitude he acquired as a paratrooper.
After “The War,” Steve went into business in South Lake Tahoe, California, where he achieved immediate and lasting success. His first venture consisted of two drive-in theaters, which were immensely popular in the post-war years, especially at a tourist destination in “car-happy” California. He soon sensed that the exploding popularity of television was a threat to this enterprise, and sold the drive-ins while they still would fetch a good price.
The chronological order of the next several ventures may not be quite correct, and some of them overlapped with others. Steve completed an M.B.A. at Stanford. It took him three years, because he did not attend fall term. He married Jean Thayer in 1953 (they never had children). He owned a ski shop, and for a time, a resort. Margie said it was named Echo Mountain, but there is currently no resort by that name, except a rather new one in Colorado.
Stephen’s most successful and long-lived business began as a hamburger cafe in downtown South Tahoe. Although it was only open summers, it was a great money-maker. After a few years, he expanded at the same location and added a souvenir shop. By a combination of luck and good timing, the shop acquired a large quantity of “smiley-face” buttons at the exact time they became wildly popular. Another timely move was into souvenir and custom-printed t-shirts. Even while setting up with them, Steve scoffed at the idea as a short-lived fad. “Who would want a t-shirt printed with advertising or a slogan?” he said, just before sales took off, and the t-shirts remain popular even today. Indeed, here is Google’s street view of the shop, still partly owned by Stephen and managed by his partner Margie.
In its heyday, the business was so successful that during the winter closure, Steve and Jean spent their time skiing in Europe. However, in the 1980’s, Jean developed Parkinson’s Disease, and could no longer tolerate a winter climate. The couple moved to Fairfield, California, while still holding the business and a residence in Tahoe. Jean passed away in 2008; later, Steve moved into assisted living on the same retirement campus.
I encouraged my daughter, Diana Hotelling Lana and her husband, who live near Fairfield, to pay Stephen a visit at Christmastime. They did so, showed him some photos old and new, and had a brief but very cordial chat. Steve has some challenges, but retains that “can-do” paratrooper attitude. Kudos, cousin Steve! 
Old Acquaintance
Jun 26, 2016
Steve died this morning.
George
Jul 4, 2016
Thank you for the sad news. RIP, Cousin Steve.
Lisa Moe
Jul 6, 2016
So sorry to hear of your loss.
My family and I were in that store last August! Lake Tahoe is our last “hurrah” before school begins in the fall. I can see why Steve liked the area. It’s a small world.
Sean T Smyth
Dec 31, 2016
I worked for Steve at Tahoe Summers Inc from the Summer of 1985 to the Summer of 1987. The Burger place was called the Goodie Wagon and had pink awnings during that time. The shop next door was called the Goodie Chest. They were great Summers and I enjoyed working for Steve. Curious as what happened to Laurie sp? He was the handyman that fixed everything back then. Glad to hear Steve is still around after all these years.
Sean T Smyth
Dec 31, 2016
Oh. Sorry I missed the second page. Sorry for your loss.
Erwin Montalvo
Jul 27, 2017
So sad to hear about Steve’s passing. I worked for him during my summers while in college. He was a great mentor and influence on us college kids during those times.
Vivian Barlow Morris
Nov 9, 2018
I was looking through photo albums and saw pictures of Steve.
Was sorry to see Steve had passed. Never would have guessed he was older than my parents, or I might have looked him up sooner
I also worked for Steve at the Goodie Wagon from 1974 to 79 or 80. He was the BEST boss ever and the Goodie Wagon is still my favorite job I have ever had.
This was the ski resort Steve owned- Echo Summit. The ski area, known as Nebelhorn and later Echo Summit, closed in 1988. It is now Adventure Mountain, a snow play area for sledding and tubing.[12][13]
http://www.interment.net/data/us/ca/solano/suisun-fairfield-cemetery-records-m-o.htm Gives info on where Jean is buried.
Suisun Fairfield Cemetery
Fairfield, Solano County, California
Surnames M-O
GPS: 38.261824, -122.041544
1707 Union Ave
Fairfield, CA 94533
Myers, Jean Louise, b. 1921, d. 4/23/1998, bur. 4/27/1998
A previous poster asked about Laurie. He was also a great guy. I heard he moved back to Utah, where he was from, after the Goodie Wagon and Goodie Chest closed.
RIP Steve