Stephen Michael “Steve” LaFontaine, 69, passed away on October 12, 2026, after a sudden and brief illness with Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma.

Steve was born on January 3, 1957, in London, Ontario, Canada, to Roy and Doris LaFontaine. As a teenager, he moved with his family to Toledo, Ohio, where he attended St. Francis High School. He later attended Bowling Green State University and The Ohio State University. In 1989, Steve and his wife, Ann, moved to Georgia, where they built their life and family together and eventually made their home in Big Canoe.

Steve was, above all, a people person. Charismatic, easygoing, and an eternal optimist, he never met a stranger. He had a vibrant, unforgettable smile and a genuine ability to make everyone he encountered feel welcome, important, and loved.

For the last decade, Steve operated a transportation business, often driving people to and from the airport. It was work that suited him perfectly. More than the driving itself, Steve loved meeting new people, hearing their stories, and turning an ordinary ride into a personal connection. To Steve, no one remained a stranger for long.

One of the most meaningful parts of Steve’s life was his sobriety. After overcoming alcohol addiction, he spent decades helping others find their own path through recovery. As an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Steve sponsored, encouraged, and supported many people over the years. Sobriety brought Steve a sense of serenity that shaped the way he lived his life, and it became not simply something he achieved, but an opportunity to give back and help others find that same peace. If someone needed help, Steve showed up. That was simply who he was.

Steve also loved an adventure and rarely needed much convincing to say yes to one. Whether it was driving across the country with his daughter, heading out at the last minute to catch a concert at Eddie’s Attic, or going to a car show with his son, he embraced the chance to go somewhere, experience something new, and make a memory. He loved live music, and his enthusiasm was hard to miss, often accompanied by a huge smile and his arms waving excitedly in the air. He loved Atlanta Braves baseball, his daughter Nichol’s baked goods, talking cars with his son Chris, and, more than anything, his family.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Ann LaFontaine, with whom he shared nearly 39 years of marriage; his children, Nichol Georgiades and her husband, Chris, of Greenville, SC, and Chris LaFontaine and his wife, Cassidy, of Woodstock, GA; and a grandchild whose arrival he was joyfully awaiting. He is also survived by his siblings, Martha Smartt of Lilburn, GA, and Paul LaFontaine of Vancouver, Canada. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Doris LaFontaine. A man of the Catholic faith, Steve lived his life with optimism, compassion, generosity, and a genuine love for others. Those who knew Steve will remember many things, but perhaps most of all they will remember his smile and the way he made people feel. Whether family, friend, someone he sponsored, a passenger in his car, or a person he had only just met, Steve had a gift for making people feel as though they mattered.

And to Steve, they did.

A funeral service will be held Friday, October 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, 991 Kilough Church Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534.