Three Minutes on a Park Bench With: Old Man Steve

Stephen Austin traded Texas for East Haven and hasn't looked back. 

Same could be said for Stephen and the Internet, a perfect match if there ever was one.

The 75-year-old dove right in with the persona "Old Man Steve"—blogging, posting videos, taking to social media, you name it—and now boasts stats to put the young 'uns to shame. 

He's clocked more than 1,000 posts on East Haven Patch so far, regularly mugs for the 2,472 subscribers to his YouTube channel "The Life and Times of Old Man Steve" and boasts a Facebook fan club of 2,380. (Not to mention binge-watching "House of Cards" on Netflix with everyone else right now.) 

We grabbed a few minutes to meet the man behind the colorful hats.

Patch: What's your morning routine? 

Stephen: Oh gosh like most people I make coffee then get on the computer check email and Facebook.

P: What do you do for a living? And what's the best thing about your job?

S: I'm 75 years old and retired, but I'm caregiver for my partner of 44 years. He has Parkinson's disease. I enjoy the fact that we can be together and that I can take care of him.

P: What's the hardest?

S: Not being able to do the things we use to do, like go to movies, out to eat, go to the theater.

P: How long have you lived here? 

S: I've lived here two years. I'm from Dallas, Texas. Moved here to be near my partner's family since he is from here.

P: What's your favorite thing about living here?

S: Well, I like the people and the beautiful places to go and see. I did like the snow the first year I was here because we don't get snow like this in Texas. Now I'm over it. It's pretty to look at but not fun to drive.

P: If you had to arrange a secret meeting here, where would you have it?

S: Gosh, a secret meeting? I don't know, maybe the shore or the town green. I guess I haven't been here long enough to know.

P: Tell us something about yourself that most of your neighbors don't know.

S: Well I do videos on YouTube as Old Man Steve. I have a small fan club which is on Facebook. I do Twitter, Instagram, all that stuff. Young people don't think old people can do a lot of this stuff but I do. Self taught.

P: When you want a really indulgent snack here, where do you go and what do you get?

S: I don't snack out side of the home, except TJ's on North High Street here in East Haven has some sugar-free pies that I love. I'm diabetic so I have to watch what I eat.

P: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

S: "You are never to old to learn something new." And truer word's were never spoken 

P: What are you doing after this interview?

S: Watch another chapter of "House of Cards" on Netflix. I've never binged watched before and I sure do like it.


***

Nominate someone from your community for the Patch Park Bench interview. Send suggestions to kathleen@patch.com.