Benefit events to celebrate life of ‘Spoonie’ Sponaugle

Family and friends of Stephen “Spoonie” Sponaugle will hold the fourth annual celebration of his life and two benefit events from 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, at Bethany Blues Lewes, and 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, at Nicola Pizza in Lewes. 

Spoonie, a beloved member of the local community, died suddenly April 20, 2019.

Events have raised $33,000 in the last three years to benefit arts and band programs for Cape Henlopen School District students in grades five to 12.

Bethany Blues and Nicola Pizza will donate a portion of their sale proceeds, and each event will feature on-site raffle drawings and silent auctions.

Freshly Squeezed, Spoonie’s former band, will play at the Bethany Blues event, and a birthday cake will be presented at the Nicola event. Select Cape Henlopen band members and staff will be featured guests at both events.

Those who cannot attend but wish to donate should send checks made payable to Friends & Family of Stephen Sponaugle, c/o Theresa Sponaugle, 32 Eagle Drive, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

Spoonie was born and raised here at the beach and graduated from Cape Henlopen High School, Class of 1999. He was a fixture in the community, as are his mother and father, Theresa and Bill. His family owned the Dewey Beach Club for many years.

In 2001, Stephen graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and later worked in several area restaurants including The Buttery and Abstractions. Most recently, he was a bartender at The Cultured Pearl and Nicola Pizza.

Stephen had a passion for music that started in grade school, playing trombone in the Rehoboth Summer Band Program. He played guitar and trombone for the Delaware Music School, and from 2008 until his passing, he was a vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Freshly Squeezed.