Diamond Retailer Marketing Associate Steven Bates Dies at 48

It is with great sadness that Diamond Daily acknowledges the loss of Diamond Retailer Marketing Associate Steven Douglas Bates, who died on Friday, December 3 after a brief illness. He was 48.

He enjoyed writing, drawing, reading, Star Trek, Fess Parker and dreamed of traveling around the world.  However, his greatest love was for his family. In 1990, he married Kimberly Flora of Lynchburg, Ohio. His first daughter, Madylin, was born in 1995, and his second daughter, Sophia, joined the family in 1998.

In addition to his wife and daughters, he is survived by his mother, Laura Mae Bates of New Concord, Ohio; brothers Randy, Cambridge and Jon of New Concord; nieces Maura Hoff and Emily Bates; nephew Aaron Bates; mother-in-law Connie Hamm of Lynchburg, Ohio; and father-in-law Clay Flora of Blanchester, Ohio. His father, Everett Bates preceded him in death in 2002.

Before joining Diamond, Steve channeled his interest for comic books and the direct market industry by serving as the General Manager of The Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn, Ohio, a pop culture specialty store. In his retail position, Steve demonstrated a passion not only for the products he sold, but for customer service and event coordination. During this time, Steve was also the Coordinator of OhioReads, a volunteer program that tutors elementary school readers, he wrote on a freelance basis for organizations such as the Tae Kwon Do Association and Writer’s Digest Books, and he contributed industry insights with his "I Think I Can Manage" weekly column on ICV2.com.  

In 2005, Steve accepted the position of Writer with Diamond’s Marketing Communications Department and relocated to Maryland from his native Ohio. During his time with Diamond, Steve was a regular contributor to this e-publication, Diamond Dialogue, Diamond Dateline, the Free Comic Book Day and Retailer Summits websites, and many more of the company’s retail marketing efforts. 

Outside of his writing, Steve was a well-known presence at Diamond’s Retailer Summits and other events. Not only did he capture the events’ greatest moments with his words and his photos, but he could often be found discussing business, family, industry news, and, of course, comics with retailers. As a communicator and caring individual, this is where he excelled. His talents for addressing the needs of the direct market retail community were acknowledged by Diamond with his promotion to Retailer Marketing Associate, a position Steve held until his passing.   

 “One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received was that of Steve’s friendship,” said Andrew Gertz, Daily’s Managing Editor. “The world has lost the rarest kind of man – one so full of kindness, so low in judgments, and so willing to give. No matter your problem or how well he knew you, Steve took the time to try to make you feel better, and he almost always succeeded. This is a tragic loss for Diamond and the direct market community. My deepest sympathies go to his family.” 

On behalf of Diamond, our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve and the Bates family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Madylin and Sophia Bates Education Fund at Century National Bank, 1 West Main Street, New Concord, OH 43762. Checks should be made out to “To Benefit the Madylin and Sophia Bates Education Fund” and mailed to that address. Click here for bank contact information.

- Artwork courtesy of Justin Wasson, Steve's friend and Gemini Serials creator