Stephan Doyle

Body of missing man found
by Seth Hemmelgarn
s.hemmelgarn@ebar.com
Published 02/14/2008

The body of a gay Sunol man who had been missing since late 2007 has been found.

Stephan Doyle, 47, had been reported missing by Neal Davies, his partner of 19 years. Doyle's body was discovered in a utility room Wednesday, February 6, close to where he had last been seen at the Hayward business owned by his partner.

Lieutenant Chris Orrey, public information officer for the Hayward Police Department, said the coroner's office has determined asphyxiation as the cause of death. She said Doyle's death was accidental.

Doyle had last been seen between midnight and 2 a.m. on November 30 preparing Christmas decorations at Zentek Scientific, the Hayward engineering firm owned by Davies. Davies was on a business trip at the time and reported Doyle missing soon after he returned.

Orrey said Doyle's body was discovered by a phone technician who was with the new owner of a business near Zentek. The detached utility room is on the property of the other business, Orrey said. Doyle apparently didn't have any association with the other business.

"Our investigators believe he probably died there very shortly after he was last seen," Orrey said.

Doyle was much loved in his community. Believing that Doyle wouldn't just walk away from them, Doyle's friends and family had conducted repeated searches for him, and had even offered a reward.

"He was like family to me," said Pat Stillman, who'd known Doyle for about 15 years. She said the last time she'd seen him was when he picked her up in the used red convertible Saab that he'd just bought.

Doyle came over and said, "Com on, lady!" wrapped a scarf around her neck, and told her to put her sunglasses on, Stillman recalled. The two were going to gather Christmas decorations for a fundraiser.

"It was cold out, but the top was down, of course," Stillman said. "We had the heater on full blast so we could stay warm. We spent the whole day shopping and having lunch. That was a special day."

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 16 at 11 a.m. at the Little Brown Church in Sunol. At 2 p.m. there will be a celebration of Doyle's life at the Terrace Room at Elliston Vineyards.

For more information, visit http://www.stephandoyle.com.