Stephen Barol Goldstein (b. April 28,1969) died Sunday evening, June 14, 2026. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer in December 2025. He navigated this disease with courage, intellect, and although difficult to muster at times, his ineffable sense of humor. Ultimately, after months of therapy and treatment, he succumbed to complications during treatment. He was surrounded by his family as he departed this life on Sunday. Stephen is survived by his wife: Judith (Judi) Rivera, his children, Griffin and Maeve Goldstein and their mother Kerry Lorincz, his sisters, Rachel Dalinka (Mike Cooperberg), Jessa Goldstein (Kenny Cahoon), and his Godparents, Gavriel and Lisa Goldstein, as well as an extensive family. Stephen was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. Stephen loved to share laughter with all he met. He found humor in most things, and was not above laughing at himself. He shared his love of wordplay, love of music, and his quirky facial expressions freely. Anything for a laugh!

Stephen graduated from Temple University with a degree in English Literature and Journalism. He began his career as a writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer, then transitioned to pharmaceutical advertising, where he worked for more than 20 years. Stephen started as a medical editor and copy writer, and ultimately became an accomplished Creative Director, and Vice President. In these roles he worked with creative teams to launch both brand and generic products globally and domestically to both health care providers and consumers targeting a wide range of disease states including the bone marrow cancer that took him from us.

Stephen had a deep love for music. He played harmonica with several local rock and jazz bands in the 1990s and 2000s. Whether listening or playing his musical tastes were quite eclectic, but his musical passion was Jazz. He cherished his wife’s shared passion for music and for Jazz specifically. Stephen had an extensive vinyl collection including soul-jazz, hard-bob, bebop, blues, R&B, funk, soul, and samba, among others. He also loved Philadelphia and was an avid Philly sports fan. He called himself a “Philly boy through and through”, and he held deeply passionate opinions of each of the city’s teams.

Stephen loved to go out for a drive and to drive fast; later, after his diagnosis, he said it gave him a sense of freedom and control that the disease had taken from him. Stephen met the one he called “the love of his life”, Judi in 2023. He was overjoyed to be spending the rest of his life with her, having new experiences, and making new memories; they were married December 31, 2025. He was determined to overcome his cancer and begin the rest of his life, but those plans were cut short. His infectious albeit dry sense of humor, his passion for music, and his ability to see beauty in things others might overlook will be missed immeasurably.

Memorial Service: Thursday, June 25, 12 pm at Goldstein’s Funeral Home, 6410 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19126. Family and friends will gather afterwards at the Oakhill Condominiums Clubhouse, 1660 Oakwood Drive, Penn Valley, PA 19072.