Newport Beach man recalled as true friend

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Bob Russell recalls best friend Steven Allen Luce as

a man who enjoyed life and “knew every square inch of Newport Beach.”

On Monday, at about 4 p.m., 53-year-old Luce rode away on a red

bicycle to a friend’s house. Barely 10 minutes later, he was hit by a van

while crossing Newport Boulevard at 16th Street.

He was pronounced dead late Monday at Western Medical Center in Santa

Ana, Newport Beach Police Lt. Dale Birney said Tuesday.

Police said they will probably not press charges against Scott

Williamson, the 40-year-old Costa Mesa driver of the van that hit Luce.

According to a witness, Luce was crossing on a red light. Williamson,

who was passing through a green light, could not stop in time to avoid

the collision, Birney said.

Russell said he last saw Luce right before he left the house Monday.

“It’s a huge shock,” Russell said. “He was my lifelong best friend. He

never talked about anybody -- good or bad. He was stubborn but never

tried to hurt anybody.”

Luce’s family moved to Newport Beach in 1968, and Luce had lived in

the city ever since, Russell said. Russell and Luce both attended Newport

Harbor High School, though Russell was older.

“He was Class of ‘73, and I was Class of ‘72,” he said.

The friends loved to do everything together -- ride their bikes down

to Newport Pier and the Balboa Fun Zone, go camping and play with their

dogs.

“He loved life,” Russell said. “He loved Newport Beach. I think he

liked everything about the city. He almost lived at the beach.”

Luce retired early after selling the family’s candy factory in Los

Angeles, Russell said.

He was not married and had no children, but is survived by his mother,

Angie Luce.