Published in the American-Statesman on December 27, 2012
Austin, TX


Steven Mitchell Lake, 55, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2012, in Mays
Landing, New Jersey. Steve was born on September 2, 1957, in Riverside,
California. He attended public schools in Alaska, New York, Maryland,
and Texas, and received a Bachelor of Science degree and doctorate in
chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. He went on to teach
there, and at Georgia Southern University. Most recently, he worked at
Battelle in Egg Harbor, New Jersey as a principal research scientist,
developing explosives detection techniques for the Department of Homeland
Security. Steve was a brilliant researcher and was passionate about
reading, music, and nature. He is survived by his parents, Frank and
Betty Lake of McMinnville, TN, sisters Melissa Giesberg (Tom) and Laura
Weiss (Eric), nephews David, Eric, and Adam, and a niece Sarah. He
was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be missed but
never forgotten. The family suggests those who desire, send memorial
contributions to the National Audubon Society at www.audubon.org.