Steve Trainor, a writer for The Quad Cities Regional Business Journal and a well-known figure in local media, music and theater organizations, died Saturday, Sept. 2, at his home in Hampton, Illinois.
Several reports state Mr. Trainor, 76, died after a long battle with cancer.
“Steve dedicated himself to our organization. Serving as a volunteer, board member and eventual president. Steve put in the work to help fulfill our mission and improve as an organization,” according to a post on the Bix Jazz Society Facebook page.
In early August, that organization awarded Mr. Trainor one of the group’s top awards – the Bix Lives Award.
“Steve was also a great friend to many, often donning his ‘Bix Lives’ hat and buttons to our many festivals. Having a background in news media, Steve was witty and professional in his endeavors. We are extremely grateful for his support to our organization, local arts, and those who knew him,” according to the society’s Facebook post.
“He was instrumental in keeping the Bix Festival flourishing while so many music festivals across the country failed. His love for the music was infectious,” Mr. Trainor’s obituary said.
In addition to supporting local music, Mr. Trainor was a news reporter for several TV stations around the country, including KWQC and WHBF in the Quad Cities, as well as stations in Peoria, Illinois; Charlotte, Virginia; and Houston, Texas.
He also was a freelance writer with The Quad Cities Regional Business Journal since the QCBJ launched operations in the fall of 2021.
“Steve loved to champion the small business and getting to meet the people behind them,” said Jennifer DeWitt, editor of the QCBJ. “We will miss his nose for news, his friendly demeanor and his ability to get sources to open up. But even more, we’ll miss Steve and his can-do spirit.”
Some of the subjects he tackled for the QCBJ included stories on the Thai Town restaurant, Old Oaks Winery, Shameless Chocoholic and the Sound Conservatory.
This summer, he also wrote about the business impact of the John Deere Classic golf tournament in Silvis.
In that story, Mr. Trainor interviewed numerous Silvis business owners and city officials about the potential impact of the largest professional sporting event in the region.
Mr. Trainor also was active in theater communities in Topeka, Kansas, and the Quad Cities, where he performed with Quad City Music Guild, Richmond Hill Players, Black Box Theatre of the Quad Cities, Playcrafters Barn Theatre and others.
“The Black Box Theatre sends our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Steve Trainor who lost his battle with cancer. We were lucky to have had him grace our stage,” according to a post made on the Black Box Theatre Facebook page.
He also launched his own company called Remember Your Life Video, which offered people the opportunity to do video interviews and tell the stories of their lives.
“(Steve) doesn’t do family tree research, but helps you tell the story of your life, including all the ‘stories’ you’ve told most of your life — and even a few you haven’t,” according to information on the company website.
Mr. Trainor’s funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at All Saints Episcopal Church, Rock Island. The family will continue the celebration of Mr. Trainor’s life with food and drink at a hospitality gathering in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, Moline, from 3 to 5 p.m., with a time of sharing for family and friends at 4 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, All Saints Episcopal, Rock Island, St. Michael of All Angels, Mission Kansas.
See his full obituary here.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Gaye Dunn; two brothers, Randy (Judy Parkinson) Trainor of Champaign, and Mike (Dee) Trainor of Kansas City, Kansas; one step-brother, Steve Olson; a niece, Madeline Trainor; a nephew, Jack Trainor; cousin, Greg (Kristin) Trainor; cousin Pam (John) Muccio.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leon Trainor, Jr., his mother and step-father, Virginia and Vance Olson and step-brother, Denny Olson.
Memorials may be made to the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, All Saints Episcopal, Rock Island, St. Michael of All Angels, Mission Kansas.
