Hugh Dean Steffy

2010 - 2010

It is with deep sadness and great joy that we announce that Hugh D. Steffy passed away Sept. 14, 2010 at Chandler, Arizona with his son Stephen at his side.

Hugh was born Sept. 6, 1923 in a farmhouse near Hartville, Ohio to Ivan and Vina Steffy. He graduated from Marlboro High School in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in May of 1942. He proudly served in the Army as a medical technician with the 120th Evacuation Hospital Semi-Mobile, 3rd Army, and was serving with this unit when it was assigned to take over medical intervention at the recently liberated Nazi concentration camp, Buchenwald. What he saw at Buchenwald would stay with him the rest of his life.

Hugh was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on Dec. 5, 1945 but would never forget what he saw and experienced at Buchenwald. He and his beloved wife, Polly, would later return to Buchenwald for a memorial and throughout his later years Hugh would receive many honors and recognitions for his role as a liberator and caregiver. He also worked tirelessly to educate American school children about the Holocaust.

Hugh and our mother, Polly Ladd Garms, crossed paths on Sept. 30, 1945, and Hugh finally met his match. He was smitten and they married on Christmas Day, 1946.

Hugh is survived by his wife of 63 years, Polly, their three children, Frances (George), Mark (Megan) and Stephen (Ninon), and many other children that they welcomed into their home including Denise Lopian, Nancy Auestad, Eddie Moon, Bill Rasmussen, Rob Laurie, Frank Morin and others. Grandchildren are Samuel (Autumn), Rosalind, Daniel (Krista), Rachel (Jean-Christophe), Darwin (Christina), Benjamin (Heather), Nick (Emily), and Max. Current great-grandchildren are Caitlin and Lauren, with more expected soon. Hugh is also survived by his older brother, Robert Steffy, with his brother, John, and sister, Ruth, passing before him.

Hugh loved and lived for his family, their growth, adventures and personal achievements giving him great pride and satisfaction. Hugh was bigger than life to his family and his friends, sharing his wry sense of humor and equally sharing his tears when so moved. He raised his kids to enjoy the likes of The Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Mark Twain, Bob Hope and others. His high school yearbook byline was typical of his humor, "Great men are dying and I don't feel well myself." Hugh was also a consummate conversationalist, never at loss for words or stories.

Hugh graduated from Ohio State University in 1950 with a degree in business and a propensity for everything Buckeye. He never missed an Ohio State/Michigan football game. Among other things he was also an anti-aircraft gunner (prior to becoming a medical technician during WWII), a film projectionist, a repo-man, a warehouse manager for a major food company, a professional photographer, an accomplished chef (Chicken Ga-Hughie anyone?) and a great husband, father, grandfather and friend. As kids we never got stitches because he could always patch up the worst of wounds with skillfully placed Band-Aids, and we may be the most photographed family on Planet Earth. Hugh was also blessed with an incredible memory up to the day of his passing and we believe he remembered everyone he ever met, he certainly took photographs of everyone and most are labeled with the name and date.

His friends, whom he loved, are too numerous to mention here, but we would like to make special note of Mike Whitehouse who was his faithful friend during his last few years in Chandler, his nephews Tom and Johnny Lang, niece Phyllis Phillips, cousin Liz Garms, other relatives, childhood friends, Army friends, co-workers, neighbors, church friends, and old girlfriends, all of whom he held in high esteem.

Domiciles included Ohio, Boston, Vermont, Mississippi, Little Rock, St. Louis, Springfield, Fort Wayne, Yorba Linda, Oxnard, and Chandler.

A memorial celebration of Hughs life will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2949 Alamo St., Simi Valley, with Pastor Al Young of Trinity Lutheran Church and Pastor James Pflueger of Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Chandler, Ariz., co-officiating. A luncheon will follow and all who knew him are invited.