He worked out daily — sometimes twice daily — and, at 45, had the physique of someone half his age. But, several people said, Mesic was no "tough guy."

"He often joked that he could not throw a punch if his life depended on it," Sukan said.

"People look at big muscles and tattoos and expect a harsh voice, but he was quite soft-spoken — there was never a harsh word with Steve," said Matt Fry, co-owner of the Century Fitness Gym where Mesic had, until a few months ago, trained faithfully for years.

Fry said bodybuilders have a reputation for a fierce focus in the gym, a turning inward, but Mesic was different.

"He was a very nice guy … there was no body builder attitude. He was willing to help anyone out with form or an exercise."

Family members also said that Mesic was devoted to his partner, Sharon Dorr, and had been looking forward to the birth of their child.

Although Mesic had been off work for some months, apparently due to injuries sustained in a solo motorcycle accident, he had worked for many years at National Steel Car.

He also collected guns — as many as 20, according to one acquaintance — and would take them for shooting at local ranges with friends. It's unclear if that hobby had any bearing on the events the day he was killed. He had signed himself out of the hospital that morning — to go for a walk, reportedly — and family members say he had no keys to his house with him, and therefore no access to his guns.

bdunphy@thespec.com

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