08/03/2026
Our community at Open Table Nashville is mourning the loss of Steve Lindstrom and Georgette Arena who tragically passed away on June 19.
We first met Steve in 2013, and for the past thirteen years, he’s been involved in our outreach and advocacy efforts. He led our winter canvassing teams downtown, served on our board, helped with our Day on the Hill events, and fought against the criminalization of homelessness alongside us.
He attended rallies, marches, and legislative meetings. He risked arrest to stand in solidarity with our friends who were facing unjust displacement, and he maintained long-term friendships with a number of people he met on the streets. Steve also showed up for our staff members and our organization during difficult times and was someone we could always depend on.
Steve was the kind of person who cared deeply about others, showed up, and made things happen. He was driven by a deep sense of spirituality that understood that his liberation was bound up with the liberation of people who are oppressed. Instead of playing it safe or disengaging from struggle, he leaned in. His leadership, friendship, and willingness to live out his deepest convictions made a profound impact on those of us who knew him and the broader community.
We give thanks for the many ways Steve and Georgette supported, encouraged, and accompanied us. We are all better for it and will carry their memory with us in our work.
In our latest blog post, Co-Founder Lindsey Krinks memorializes Steve’s impact on our work in a full tribute: https://www.opentablenashville.org/post/remembering-the-legacy-of-steve-lindstrom
Information about the Celebration of Life for Steve and Georgette: https://pp.events/bgAaaMvb
Steve's family shared his obituary: https://www.williamsonherald.com/obituaries/stephen-steve-alan-lindstrom-humanitarian-and-fierce-advocate-for-the-unhoused-dies-at-79/article_b176e891-a343-4409-aff4-708253772922.html
