Steven Makarchenko, 25: Truck driver who loved camping and barbecuing

Steven Makarchenko, 25, from Karmiel, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Supernova music festival on October 7.

He attended the rave with his girlfriend, Alisia Levin, and his friend Slava Giler. The three left the festival together via car, and their vehicle was later found abandoned near Kibbutz Mefalsim. All three were slain, and Steven’s body was identified several days later.

He was buried in Karmiel on October 11. He is survived by his parents, Ira and Alex, and his older brother Dima.

Steve grew up in Karmiel in the north. He loved being out in nature and enjoyed camping, his loved ones said. From a young age, he loved cars and vehicles and counted down the days until he could get his driver’s license.

He was very close to his parents and his older brother, and he doted on and spoiled his young niece when she arrived in the family. He and Alisia dated for three years, and during that time he also served as a father figure to her young children, his family said.

Steve worked as a truck driver and also worked for a company that provided services for people with disabilities, his family said.

His cousin, Karin, wrote on Facebook that she was struggling to come to terms with the fact that “I simply won’t see you anymore, forever… One day we’ll meet again, we’ll swap jokes, we’ll sit and chill, we’ll take a shot, we’ll light up the barbecue with some good pieces of meat — what more than that could we want?”

Karin said she wanted to tell Steve, “Thank you, thank you for who you were, for being my cousin… thank you for every time I only needed to ask and you would show up for me. Thank you for giving me everything you could when I asked. Thank you for supporting me, for believing in me. I appreciate you so much. I’m so grateful.”

His sister-in-law, Keren, said she first met Steve when he was 10 or 11 years old, and over the years they shared a special bond and learned a great deal from each other.

“I’m grateful that you were in my life, grateful that you taught me so much — about optimism, your joy for life — you knew how to smile in every situation,” she wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your endless help, you were always the first to help and take me to every doctor’s appointment, stay with me for the surgeries and make sure I wasn’t lacking anything.”

Keren said she felt Steve “was sending me strength every moment of the day so that I can help your parents and Dima, who were such a huge part of your life, handle things… I feel you whispering in my ear that I need to be strong, I need to hold everyone together,” she added.

“If you were here now, you would sit next to me and find a way to laugh about this too,” she continued. “You would tell me how much you understood me and the situation I’m in. You would tell me that you’re here for me, every hour and every minute — you’re here for me.”

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