Obituary of Stephen L. Lent

Stephen L. Lent

October 27, 1944 - March 11, 2025

Stephen Laurence Lent, retired U.S. Army Major and tireless advocate for fellow veterans, has passed away.

Born on October 27, 1944 at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco, California to Harold and Lois (Behrend) Lent, Stephen grew up in the Bay Area with his brothers, Ronald and Keith. Though he faced health challenges as a child, he developed a resilient spirit that would characterize his entire life. He graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco, California in 1962. Stephen's childhood dream was to become a U.S. Army officer. After struggling academically in high school and briefly attending San Francisco State College, he joined the Army in January 1967 as a clerk-typist stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. He left active duty in December, 1969 as a Specialist 5 and, after finding civilian work unfulfilling, reenlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1975 at the Presidio San Francisco. One of his proudest military accomplishments was leading the 124th U.S. Army Reserve Command's AIDS Program in Seattle beginning in 1986. As a certified AIDS Educator, he briefed medical and mental health personnel about AIDS and its societal impact. He also led the AIDS Notification Team that informed HIV-positive soldiers of their status. Throughout his 32-year military career, Major Lent was recognized numerous times for his exemplary service, including two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals and two Army Achievement Medals. He also served as team captain for combat pistol competitions, leading his team to victory in several matches.

After a medical retirement from the Army in March, 2002, Stephen purchased a home in Riverview, Michigan. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but continued to work in information technology until 2004 when he became a substitute teacher in Southgate, Michigan. In 2006, he joined the John Dingell Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit, where he received sixteen customer service awards over four years. Stephen's commitment to serving fellow veterans was unwavering. As a certified Volunteer Chapter Service Officer with the Disabled American Veterans Organization, he researched and compiled over one hundred illustrated pamphlets on subjects ranging from Agent Orange exposure to veterans' benefits. He made house calls to homebound veterans and widows, helping them submit claims and acquire records. In 2008, he successfully advocated for a wounded WWII veteran to receive his long-denied Purple Heart. In 2014, Stephen was selected to receive the Metropolitan Detroit area Goodwill Industries Volunteer of the Year Award for his work assisting the Detroit Goodwill Headquarters Veterans Services. That same year, the City of Riverview honored him with a Certificate of Appreciation for his volunteer efforts.

A man of diverse interests, Stephen was a passionate collector of science fiction books and magazines, military aircraft memorabilia and postage stamps. He particularly valued his space-themed covers signed by early astronauts. In his memoir, he reflected that his true legacy was not his military achievements but "doing my best to be a good father and giving back to those who served this country." Stephen is survived by his children Avalon, Melissa, Tracy, Megan, Katelyn, Christopher and Becca, and his brothers, Ronald and Keith Lent. His quirky/off-beat wit, dedication to service and commitment to making a difference in the lives of veterans will be deeply missed by all who knew him.