Steve was a volunteer for 35 years, supporting Dudley Hospital Radio and then the Children’s Ward at Russells Hall Hospital. He was also a volunteer for Dudley CVS for many years, driving our minibuses around the borough offering the elderly and disabled an opportunity to enjoy social activities. His warm personality and sense of humour made him very popular with his passengers, who always left the bus with a smile on their face.
In 2016 Steve Mukanovic was awarded the Children & Families Main Award at Dudley Volunteer Awards 2016, for his outstanding contribution to making children’s stays in hospital more pleasant and in recognition of making 500+ local children’s dreams come true. Everything from riding in a helicopter or a Ferrari, to meeting a celebrity or smashing gnomes!
His nominator Linda tells us just what made him so special. She said:
“He is not only an inspiration to us all but is also truly humbling. You would have to really meet him to understand his charisma and unique sense of fun, he is truly a one off and we are so proud that he chooses to help us. It would be the best thing ever to give him some of the recognition he truly deserves especially as he is rather down awaiting further surgery.”
Steve’s presentation photo and nomination film may be viewed by following this link
Midlands Film and Art’s Character Portraits Project 2018
In 2018 Dudley CVS were approached by Midlands Art Yard to help them identify 12 local community volunteers to take part in their Characters Portrait Project, where they would be a feature of a unique piece of artwork.
Steve’s Character Portraits Project video may be viewed here and it’s wonderful to hear him talking about his passion for volunteering and the joy he got from it.
In the video Steve shared his thoughts on volunteering:
“Volunteering has kept me active physically and mentally, and hopefully there’s 500 children from the Dudley area who had their wish come true already.
As a volunteer of course you don’t get paid for what you do not in financial terms, but to see that smile how can you put a price on that? Then of course you’ve got the day itself when you meet up and you see them lift off in that helicopter, or set off in that car so you get another smile, and you get a smile from the family and that’s a very fulfilling it’s very rewarding.”
Team Santa Elf
Steve with Sarah Alliband and Jayne Waltho
In October 2018 Steve joined the volunteer elves supporting Operation Santa Dudley borough and spent 6 weeks, sorting and wrapping gifts in the grotto. He also attended the special Christmas party on 17th December at the Court House carvery in Kingswinford along with the other elves, helping us set up the room and entertaining the 50+ children, and their parents who attended.
We were sorry to hear that Steve passed away in December 2018 and will be sadly missed. There was a lovely feature in the Express & Star.
Eileen from Operation Santa said:
“Steve was just 100 per cent the nicest man. The outpouring of love for him is incredible. He was an absolute star.”
Dudley CVS blog 
A great chasm left by this sad loss, hopefully some of those who volunteered with Steve, can try to fill his boots.
Tom
Thanks Tom and you are so right, there was no one quite like Steve and those are big boots to fill
Steve’s boots will be very difficult to fill Tom as they are so huge.. just like his heart.
Incidentally Tom, noticing your surname; could you possibly be the Tom Keys I knew from R S Paskins.?
I have had the pleasure to have met and worked with Steve for 19 years and what an amazing man he was . He was funny kind and always had a joke to tell. He had also made a wish come true for my daughter who he nick named pixie where he took her horse riding he would always come on to the ward and ask how’s pixie he was very thoughtful. He came to the ward come rain or shine doing his volunteer work he will be sadly missed .
He was indeed an amazing man Marie and he will be sadly missed