Steven Sirotnyak

SIROTNYAK

Steven G.



Steven G. Sirotnyak, 74, of Sylvania, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2014, at The Toledo Hospital after a brief illness. Steve was born on June 2, 1939, to Stephen and Elizabeth (Sebok) Szirotnyak, at Women's and Children's (Riverside) Hospital, Toledo. He grew up in Hungarian Birmingham, attended Waite High School, played baseball there, and graduated in 1956, aged 16. He was a National Merit Scholar. He received Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Toledo. He was given the nickname "Maynard G. Krebs" by his Theta Chi brothers, and kept it lifelong. At UT, he was inducted into the Honorary History Fraternity, Phi Alpha Theta. He also studied at the Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, and was a "neutral" fan of the Big Game. Steve taught history at Oakdale School early in his career, was a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Financial Aid Officer at Monroe County Community College for many years, and eventually retired from Toledo Public Schools as a counselor with 34 years of service, having received recognition as Upward Bound Counselor of the Year. He held a Merchant Mariner's "Z" card, and his employment experience included full-time positions at Gulf Oil, the former Sharon Manufacturing Company, and the American (now Toledo) Shipbuilding Company. He was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army as a Combat Medical Corpsman.

Steve's interests were truly eclectic. They included model railroading, scratch-building prize-winning ship models, and research in Great Lakes marine history. He was an acknowledged expert in Swing Era jazz and a published poet. He restored and maintained several old cars over the years, but his favorite was his stock 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. Steve had perfect relative pitch in a light baritone voice, and was known to sound off day or night with some lyrics from the hundreds of popular songs he had memorized. He played fast and slow-pitch softball all his life, lastly with the East Toledo Senior Center League, and was a member of various car clubs, Theta Chi Alumni, and the Great Lakes Historical Society. Steve had a sharp and ready wit, a brilliant mind, and a gentle heart. He will be greatly missed. Steven was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Ann; children, Steve (Camilla), Michael, Andrew, Amy (Gregory) Gordon; stepson, Michael (Michele) Sutton, and 5 grandchildren. Visitation will be held Tuesday, from 4-7 p.m. at the Dowling Funeral Home, 7509 New West Road at King Road (King Rd between Central and Sylvania Ave.), Toledo, 419-841-8111. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice or St. Louis Helping Hands. For additional information or condolences, please visit

www.dowlingfh.com