Steve Wallace will always hold a special place in the story of the High Fives Foundation. He was our very first athlete, our earliest believer, and the person who helped shape the heart of this community long before we knew what High Fives would grow into.
Back in 2008, after a life-changing skiing injury, Steve crossed paths with founder Roy Tuscany. What began as two Vermonters navigating new chapters quickly became something bigger, a friendship that sparked the foundation you know today. In 2010, Steve officially became High Fives’ first-ever grant recipient, symbolizing not just a new beginning for him, but the start of a mission centered around hope, resilience, and connection.
Steve embodied all of it.
He brought humor into heavy moments. He made the Healing Center feel like home. He welcomed every new athlete with honesty, warmth, and the kind of laughter that made people feel less alone. Steve helped prove that recovery is not only physical…it’s emotional, relational, and deeply human.
His impact is woven into the culture of High Fives. You can feel it in the way athletes support each other, in the community that gathers around them, and in every shared victory that happens on snow, trails, water, and wheels. Steve showed us what it means to rebuild, to reconnect, and to keep going.
As we remember Steve, we honor the legacy he leaves behind, one of courage, compassion, and a belief that life after injury can still be full of joy.
Thank you, Steve, for being the first High Five.
Your spirit continues to guide this community forward.
A celebration of life for Steve Wallace will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee, Calif., from 1–3 p.m. Doors open at noon.
Read the Sierra Sun Article ‘Remembering Steve Wallace — The First High Five’ HERE
Read the Sierra Sun Obituary: Steven Wallace HERE
