Obituary of Stephen D. Fessenden

Stephen Douglas Fessenden, 68, of Binghamton, New York, passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2025, while with his family in South Carolina. Steve was born to Douglas and Dorothy Fessenden on November 14, 1957 in Sidney, New York. Steve, who was affectionately known as Fess, or Fezzy by his friends and colleagues, was a 1976 graduate of Sidney High School, where he was a standout three-sport athlete. Following high school, Steve attended Broome Community College, where he was a switch-hitting catcher on the baseball team for two years, earning MVP honors in 1979. Steve loved sports, especially baseball and continued to play after college on semi-pro teams in Walton and Oneonta as well as a Roy Hobbs men's league in the Albany area. Steve graduated from Brockport State University and began his law enforcement career in 1982 with the Village of Walton Police Department. In 1984, he became a New York State Trooper. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1991 and worked at State Police Headquarters in Albany until 1998. Steve worked for the New York State Police for 33 years and retired in 2017 at the rank of Sergeant Station Commander, where he served as the NYSP Southern Tier Regional Crime Laboratory Director in Port Crane for 19 years before his retirement. In 2015, Steve was inducted into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame as well as the NYSPHSAA Section IV Hall of Fame, an honor he shared with his father, Doug, who was inducted in the same class. Steve was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Johnson City, where he volunteered on the Safety Team and enjoyed fellowship with many of the church members and staff. Cecelia Grace, his beloved granddaughter, was his pride and joy. He was most content while he was with her and his loved ones. Steve was an avid outdoorsman who grew up hunting, trapping and fishing. Steve enjoyed spending time in nature with his friends and family, but also found great satisfaction in solitude, as he spent many days each year canoeing, hiking and camping in remote areas of the Adirondacks. He also stayed many nights at his cabin, which he referred to as his "base camp", in the Adirondacks. Steve loved taking photographs of God's creation and had many beautiful pictures framed to share with his friends and family once he returned from his trips. Steve loved the Lord- it was evident in how he lived his life and how he treated people. He loved his family, his church and his country. Whether at home or traveling, in a tent or a cabin, Steve would start every morning reading God's word with a hot cup of coffee in hand. Steve is survived by his wife Suzanne, his son, Andrew and his wife, Kayla, of SC, his mother, Dorothy Collyer Fessenden, currently of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, his 3 sisters, Susan (and Patrick) Jones of Oklahoma, Pamela (and Kirk) Batroff of Georgia and Jill Hathaway, of Oklahoma. He is also survived by Suzanne's children, Mandy, Emily (Michael) and Caleb, his grandchildren, Cecelia Grace, Raine, Draven, Rudy, Esmen and Aaron. In addition, he is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins, including his cousin and best friend, Chris Fessenden, two great-nephews and one great-niece. He is predeceased by his father, Douglas Fessenden. Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Johnson City, 1321 Reynolds Rd. Johnson City, NY 13790 on Thursday, December 18th. Calling hours 9:30 to 11:30. Funeral 12:00. There will be a private burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Candor, NY. Flower arrangements or memorial gifts can be sent to: First Baptist Church of Johnson City 1321 Reynolds Rd Johnson City, NY 13790 Memorial gifts can be made to: Focus on the Family https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/panele Focus on the Family 8605 Explorer Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920 Fellowship of Christian Athletes http://www.fca.org/donate Fellowship of Christian Athletes Attn: Receipting Department 8701 Leeds Rd Kansas City, MO 64129