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| Steve Joltin, Rockville resident who collected treasures, dies of covid-19 at age 75 | Steve Joltin, Rockville resident who collected treasures, dies of covid-19 at age 75 |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Steve Joltin was in search of someone special. The year was 1989, and the divorcé, who had a passion for treasure-hunting, was finally putting himself out there again. He posted a personal ad in a newsletter for the support group New Beginnings, writing that he liked to travel and — this was key to one reader — that he liked to listen. | Steve Joltin was in search of someone special. The year was 1989, and the divorcé, who had a passion for treasure-hunting, was finally putting himself out there again. He posted a personal ad in a newsletter for the support group New Beginnings, writing that he liked to travel and — this was key to one reader — that he liked to listen. |
| “Now it turns out that wasn’t entirely true,” said Barbara Joltin, chuckling. | “Now it turns out that wasn’t entirely true,” said Barbara Joltin, chuckling. |
| Thirty-one years ago she saw the ad and wrote a letter to the address that was attached. During their first date in Alexandria, she discovered that Steve Joltin was more of a talker than a listener, but she didn’t mind. | Thirty-one years ago she saw the ad and wrote a letter to the address that was attached. During their first date in Alexandria, she discovered that Steve Joltin was more of a talker than a listener, but she didn’t mind. |
| “He had such smart, interesting things to say,” she remembered. At one point, he said he was writing a book on his adventures scouring thrift stores and yard sales. | “He had such smart, interesting things to say,” she remembered. At one point, he said he was writing a book on his adventures scouring thrift stores and yard sales. |
| Three years later, the couple married at Lake Tahoe and started a life together in Montgomery County with Barbara Joltin’s young daughter and her new husband’s collection of trinkets and antiques. | Three years later, the couple married at Lake Tahoe and started a life together in Montgomery County with Barbara Joltin’s young daughter and her new husband’s collection of trinkets and antiques. |
| In his later years, Steve Joltin, 75, struggled with dementia and moved into Rockville Nursing Home, not far from the couple’s home. Barbara Joltin visted every day, continuing to talk to him and to listen. | In his later years, Steve Joltin, 75, struggled with dementia and moved into Rockville Nursing Home, not far from the couple’s home. Barbara Joltin visted every day, continuing to talk to him and to listen. |
| On April 10, he tested positive for the novel coronavirus that has spread through more than 150 long-term-care facilities in Maryland. His doctor told Barbara Joltin that he still appeared healthy and was likely to make a full recovery. | On April 10, he tested positive for the novel coronavirus that has spread through more than 150 long-term-care facilities in Maryland. His doctor told Barbara Joltin that he still appeared healthy and was likely to make a full recovery. |
| But the next day, just after midnight, she was awakened by another call, this time from a nurse at the facility. Steve Joltin had died. He had been breathing fine at 11 p.m., the nurse said, but a half-hour later, staff had found him dead. | But the next day, just after midnight, she was awakened by another call, this time from a nurse at the facility. Steve Joltin had died. He had been breathing fine at 11 p.m., the nurse said, but a half-hour later, staff had found him dead. |
| “I was in shock, I just couldn’t believe it,” Barbara Joltin said. | “I was in shock, I just couldn’t believe it,” Barbara Joltin said. |
| “He was sick one day and dead the next. It’s just so difficult to understand,” said Jan Hirschfeld, Steve’s sister. “How did he go? Was he in pain? Nobody can tell us that.” | “He was sick one day and dead the next. It’s just so difficult to understand,” said Jan Hirschfeld, Steve’s sister. “How did he go? Was he in pain? Nobody can tell us that.” |
| The last time his wife spoke to him was on Wednesday of that week. | The last time his wife spoke to him was on Wednesday of that week. |
| “The one thing that makes me feel better,” she said, “was that the last thing I told him was ‘I love you.’ ” | “The one thing that makes me feel better,” she said, “was that the last thing I told him was ‘I love you.’ ” |
| Steve Joltin was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. He attended Hunter College and later worked for AT&T before becoming an IT manager for Montgomery College. | Steve Joltin was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. He attended Hunter College and later worked for AT&T before becoming an IT manager for Montgomery College. |
| He retired in 2000, spending his days playing poker and hunting for undiscovered gems. Over the years, he collected small statues of rabbits for Barbara Joltin — an ode to her nickname “Bunny”— and picked up rare books, meteorites and intricate candle holders that came to decorate the house he shared with his wife. | He retired in 2000, spending his days playing poker and hunting for undiscovered gems. Over the years, he collected small statues of rabbits for Barbara Joltin — an ode to her nickname “Bunny”— and picked up rare books, meteorites and intricate candle holders that came to decorate the house he shared with his wife. |
| “He had an eye for beautiful and unusual things,” said Barbara Joltin, who retired in 2011 from a job in human resources. “It was intriguing for him, exciting, to find a treasure.” | “He had an eye for beautiful and unusual things,” said Barbara Joltin, who retired in 2011 from a job in human resources. “It was intriguing for him, exciting, to find a treasure.” |
| After three decades together, she said, it was difficult to be separated from her husband when the nursing home went into lockdown in March. She missed having him physically present, and she missed having someone to talk to. | After three decades together, she said, it was difficult to be separated from her husband when the nursing home went into lockdown in March. She missed having him physically present, and she missed having someone to talk to. |
| On Thursday, she picked up his ashes and brought them back to their home. It feels, she said, like he is back where he belongs. | On Thursday, she picked up his ashes and brought them back to their home. It feels, she said, like he is back where he belongs. |
| Chianti Jackson Harpool, longtime Baltimore social worker, dies of coronavirus | Chianti Jackson Harpool, longtime Baltimore social worker, dies of coronavirus |
| Passionate about making sure people had care, Sean Boynes kept going to work | Passionate about making sure people had care, Sean Boynes kept going to work |
| ‘My source, my strength’: Friends, family remember Montgomery County employee who died from covid-19 | ‘My source, my strength’: Friends, family remember Montgomery County employee who died from covid-19 |
| Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.) | Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.) |
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