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Spirit of Steve ‘Spoonie’ Sponaugle lives on at benefit

Spoonie’s family attend the Bethany Blues event. Shown are (l-r) parents Theresa and Bill, and brother Paul. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
May 12, 2025

Family and friends of Stephen “Spoonie” Sponaugle held a fourth annual celebration of his life May 6 at Bethany Blues in Lewes. A second event will be at Nicola Pizza from 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday, May 13.

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

Bethany Blues donated a portion of sales. The event also featured raffles, silent auctions and a bartender contest with Spoonie’s friends where each tray of drinks was auctioned off.

Freshly Squeezed, Spoonie’s former band, was the headline act at the Bethany Blues event. Select Cape Henlopen band members and staff were featured guests. They will play again at Nicola Pizza.

Spoonie was born and raised at the beach and graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 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, Spoonie 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.

The events have raised $33,000 in the last three years to benefit arts and band programs in the Cape Henlopen School District.

 

Freshly Squeezed, Spoonie’s former band, headlines at the Bethany Blues event.
Joan Barrow bids on a Cape Gazette subscription.
Spoonie’s friends enjoying the event are (l-r) Angie Whitten and Joan and Chip Davis.
Checking people into the event are Ruth Sponaugle Skoglund and Paul Sponaugle.
Sponnie’s friends on hand for the event are (l-r) Chris Wertz and Jess and Jacob Barr.
Cape sophomore band member Anna Currence sings a Carly Simon cover as Brayden Whitten accompanies her on the guitar.
Spoonie’s good friend and local bartender Tim Hollenbeck explains the drinks he makes for the auction.
Theresa Sponaugle, left, and Bethany Blues Director of Operations Jessica Nathan share a hug at the event.
Cape senior band member Dylenn Enright sings for the crowd.
Friends forever are (l-r) Mimi Walls, Theresa Sponaugle and Carole Smith.
Cape band member Ruby Manos sings a popular tune.
Spoonie’s good friend Glenn Vernon explains the drinks he mixed on the auction tray.
Spoonie’s good friend Patrick Fitzpatrick sells chances on a raffle.
Spoonie’s good friend Nick Bekeshka mixes a tray of drinks to be auctioned off.
Friends of Spoonie working the event are Carole Smith, left, and Charity Vernon.
Spoonie’s good friend Nick Bekeshka, left, and Bethany Blues Director of Operations Jessica Nathan auction off a tray of drinks.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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