Stephen Wayne Enzinger

Stephen Wayne Enzinger was born on October 28, 1949 in Annapolis, Maryland. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Jane Whittaker Enzinger, and his two children, Galan Blake Enzinger (Emily Mecke) and Graceanna Bailey Enzinger. Also, by his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Kirsten Enzinger, and his cousins, Dan and Hope McNew and Mike and Kay McNew, nephews, and nieces.

He had a very prestigious career at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He earned a degree in Public Administration in 1972. He was hired by the Department of Weapons and Defense. He worked in the Hydromechanics Laboratory as a test engineer and an instructor of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. In 1983, he was certified as a Navy-trained Diver at US Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City Beach, Florida. He was the divemaster of the Hydromechanics Department. Many people inquired about his duties and assignments in which he would humbly reply, “Anything the military puts in or out of the water gets tested here.” His work has been published in various marine engineering journals. In 2000, he was an associate coordinator of the USS Constitution, Charleston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts. He conducted wind velocity tests and multiple details before, during, and after “Old Ironsides” was sailed into foreign waters during the Tall Ship Parade, in July 2000, to commemorate the new millennium. He also maintained hull inspections on the USS Constellation and other vessels in Baltimore, Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay. He attended international conferences as a representative for the USNA. He retired with his wife in Corpus Christi, Texas in 2008.

They mixed business with pleasure traveling to Ischia, Italy, Bay of Naples; St. Petersburg, Russia, Bay of Finland; Southampton, England, and the Isle of Wight. He enjoyed nature and animals and took the time to teach his children basic survival skills and camped many summers at New Germany, Maryland and Assateague/Chincoteague Island National Seashores where they enjoyed watching the wild ponies native to that area. His adventurous spirit was also very present in his everyday life where he would travel to “the Yard” by riding his motorcycle along the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He also enjoyed working with Dan, Larry, and Mike maintaining mechanical precision repairs to Mercedes-Benz and other cars. He showed his love of animals by owning several dogs, cats, parrots, ferrets, and two horses, BJ and Comanche.

Stephen Wayne Enzinger passed on March 8, 2021 in his wife’s arms after three months battling cancer. Both he and Rebecca made the decision choosing to “Die with Dignity”. His appreciation for 71 years in this world can be best compared to a man with such robust enthusiasm for life as Crocodile Dundee.

In leiu of flowers, in loving memory of Steve , contributions may be sent or stxbot.org or South Texas Botanical Gardens, 8545 S. Staples St., Corpus Christi, TX 78413.