Dr. Stephen “Steve” Lawrence GUYNUP, 58, of Wellsville, NY, passed away unexpectedly on January 18, 2026 at his home. Born on August 7, 1967 to Barbara “Barb” Ann Guynup (née Grimes) and Carl Clarence Guynup of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, Steve was the family’s youngest child. He is survived by siblings Amy, Anne, Peter, and Polly.
Throughout his New Jersey upbringing, Steve often spent summers in the Wellsville house, then owned by his grandparents and surrounded by dairy farms. He would, however, return – years later – to care for his aging, widowed mother. The whole family valued this act of love and dedication, as it enabled Barb to live out her remaining years in the town where she was raised.
Steve’s choices in life – educational, professional, and personal – reflected his singular, fundamentally creative view of the world.
Never bound by rigid thinking, one popular family story recalls when he, as a small child, attempted to construct a full-scale hang glider inside the basement. Following graduation from Haddon Heights High School, Steve obtained a Bachelor of Science in fine and applied arts (Rochester Institute of Technology), a Master of Science in information design and technology (Georgia Institute of Technology), and a doctorate in design and communications (University of Baltimore).
Early in his studies, Steve grew captivated by the nascent field of virtual reality (VR) modeling. VR provided him with an experimental, world-building medium through which he could technologically innovate and tell stories. He frequently based projects on poetry, including the works of William Blake, remarking once that “poems have always been great tools for breaking apart and understanding reality, and virtual reality is no different.”
Steve became an award-winning VR designer, having contributed significantly to the immersive art movement. And, as a published academic and committed educator, he fostered subsequent generations of VR developers – who are now a key part of his legacy.
Steve’s brother and sisters extend their heartfelt gratitude to all who embraced Steve – including the Wellsville community that welcomed him, particularly those at the Wellsville Creative Arts Center and the David A. Howe Public Library.
There will be a family memorial service this spring at Grimes District Cemetery in Port Allegany, PA.
Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust & Embser Funeral Homes & Cremation, 34 West State Street, Wellsville, NY 14895.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.wellsvillefuneralhome.com.
