Stephen Joseph Traiman

Stephen Joseph Traiman (Shepa) died October 30, 2026, after a valiant struggle following complications of surgery.

Steve was born in Perth Amboy, NJ, but moved with his mother and grandmother to Miami Beach, FL when he was seven years old. He grew up on the beach and relished his days as a lifeguard there when he was a teenager. He went on to study Journalism at the University of Florida in Gainesville and was a life-long, zealous Gator.

Steve met the love of his life, the late Bonnie Traiman, on a blind date in Miami. After a mere eight dates, the two were engaged and, before Bonnie’s death in 2025, shared 62 years of marriage. The couple spent the first few years of married life in Bonnie’s hometown, Chicago, where Steve took a job with Amusement Business, a national publication that covered entertainment and theme parks. From there, they moved their young family to suburban New Jersey, so that Steve could work in the home office of the publication in New York City.

Steve’s next professional move took him to Billboard magazine, where he covered entertainment, consumer electronics and financial news and ultimately rose to an editorial position. At one fateful lunch with the head of public relations for Sony Electronics in America, he was handed a bag with the very first Walkman to make its way to the United States, according to his telling.

“I still have it. It still works,” he said in a 2012 interview with one of his granddaughters. “I wrote a page one story for Billboard on how the Sony Walkman would change the music industry. And, of course, the cassette at that time did change the music industry.”

Steve’s daughters also enjoyed the perks of that job: unlimited free albums and tickets to almost any concert. Steve loved music of all genres and relished the opportunity to listen to and review new and favorite artists.

In the late 1980’s, Steve became the vice president of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). During this career pinnacle, Steve received an award at the White House and had the opportunity to meet President Jimmy Carter. He proudly displayed the photo with the president in his home.

Throughout their entire marriage, Steve and Bonnie were devoted to volunteer service in their communities. They were docents at the Van Saun Park Zoo in River Edge, New Jersey for more than two decades, and Steve volunteered at Temple Emeth with the Brotherhood.

When Steve and Bonnie moved to their beloved St. Pete Beach in 1999, they began to volunteer at Zoo Tampa and Tampa Bay Watch. They joined Temple Beth-El in South Pasadena and spent years volunteering at the annual art show. Most surprising to the family was Steve’s participation in Boys in the Hood, the Brotherhood’s in-house catering business. After never cooking a meal for himself, he learned the art of food preparation for a crowd and found that he loved it.

Steve was a master editor with a quick mind and extensive vocabulary. Bonnie often joked that he mostly edited-out whatever she was telling him to do, but his prowess with words never ceased to amaze his family, especially during their epic Scrabble battles. No one dared to challenge Steve, even when the words he laid out on the board seemed absurd.

Steve loved to read, and he particularly enjoyed mysteries and spy novels. For many years, he volunteered for the Friends of the St. Pete Beach library and served as their board chair until just last year.

After losing his beloved wife, Bonnie, in April of 2025, Steve continued to live on his own in what he called “his paradise,” St. Pete Beach. Following complications of a broken hip, he lived briefly in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, before his passing. He will be deeply missed by his family and community.

Steve is survived by his daughters, Lori Abraham (Brian) and Jill Max (Aaron) and beloved grandchildren, Ethan and Brooke Abraham and Jake and Samantha Max. He was predeceased by his dear wife, Bonnie Traiman, and his mother, Marion Traiman.

A memorial service will be held in December at Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Avenue South.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Steve’s memory to Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library would be appreciated. Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library, 365 73rd Avenue, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706.

Condolences can be left in the guestbook below.