KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
By Pearl Obispo
Longtime Santa Clarita resident Steve Hanauer – the “Steve” in Steve’s Valencia Florist – died Wednesday night from complications stemming from a fall he sustained the previous day.
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Not just a florist, Hanauer was also a fixture in the Santa Clarita community, known for his generous support of local charities including the SCV Senior Center and the SCV Boys and Girls Club.
“He was very proud of this valley,” said his widow, Jan Hanauer. “He loved the people. He was very prominent with the ‘old-school Santa Clarita’ community and was always willing to help.”
The local entrepreneur owned and operated Steve’s Florist since 1974 – which makes it the oldest full-service flower shop in Santa Clarita. Prior to the Santa Clarita location, Hanauer owned flower shops in San Fernando and Brentwood.
The business expanded at one point to three locations in the Santa Clarita Valley, but Jan Hanauer said they later decided to dwindle it down to one – the original and current location on Lyons Avenue in Newhall. “One was easier to maintain,” she said.
Patti Rasmussen, a Santa Clarita arts commissioner, said Hanauer was the florist who serviced her wedding 40 years ago. Rasmussen remembers a kind man who would annually remind her husband to send her flowers when their anniversary was drawing near.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at [email protected].“He liked to tease my husband Charlie every year when he forgot our anniversary,” she said.
Rasmussen also remembers the flowers and card Hanauer sent her when her fourth son, Steven, was born: “Finally, you named one after me.”
“I think that’s what I’ll miss most about him,” Rasmussen said, “He had a wicked sense of humor.”
Jan Hanauer credits the longevity of the business to her husband’s hard work.
“Steve took pride in this,” she said. “Being in this business is a lot of hard work. A lot of hard work. But he knew the kind of joy it brought to people. It’s a very rewarding job, and he loved it.”
Services for Hanauer are being planned. He was 76.
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His work was so very beautiful! it was often featured at Paseo Club and added so much to the beauty there. Blessings to the family!
Santa Clarita has lost an I-con. “Steve”. A very caring ,sharing,giving man that loved his craft.,and it showed. I’m honored to call him my friend. Over the years his beautiful flowers accented many of our cakess at Clarice’s My heart goes out to Jan,the family and the workers of Steves Valencia Florist I,m sure Steve will be opening Steve’s Heavenly Florist Shop soon.
Steve, Jan and family have been a major part of this community for years. The pride in their work and commitment to their community has always been extraordinary. I remember being in Alaska and unable to come home for a dear friend’s funeral. We called from Alaska, a they made a beautiful big heart arrangement. Another time they made a giant music note for our music teacher, which hadn’t been done on such a large scale. They’ve always been there for our florist needs. We’ll miss seeing him in town. RIP Steve and prayers for the family.
I received my first flower arrangement after moving to Santa Clarita from Steve’s Florist. My condolences to his family.