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Stephen STEPHANOU Obituary
STEPHANOU, Stephen J.
Stephen J. Stephanou, 98, husband of the late Pauline (Donahue) Stephanou, of Cook Hill Rd., Cheshire, formerly of Norwich died peacefully Sunday afternoon at The Elim Park Baptist Home in Cheshire. Born in Norwich on August 25, 1913, he was the son of the late John and Hope (Constantine) Stephanou. Mr. Stephanou was a graduate of the Norwich Free Academy class of 1931 and a graduate of Bucknell University. While attending NFA he excelled in sports playing Baseball, Basketball, and was the 1931 Quarterback for the NFA Wildcats. On February 6, 1948 in St. Mary Church in Greenville, he was united in marriage to Pauline (Donahue) Stephanou, who died on December 15, 2009. Prior to his retirement in 2005 he was employed by CELCO as a salesman for John Constantine. Stephen was a member of the former Norwich lodge of Elks #430, a member of the O. D. Club, an ECAC Featherweight Boxing champion in 1938, a member of the Central Connecticut Football Association since 1939, a board member of the Eastern Connecticut Basketball Officials since 1943, and was inducted into the NFA, Norwich, and Bucknell University Hall of Fames. Surviving are two sons Mark Stephanou and his wife Molly of Manchester, John Stephanou of Columbia, MD, a daughter Stephanie MacCatherine and her husband Stuart of North Haven; three grandchildren Scott Stephanou, Stephen Stephanou, and Mark Shorey; brother in law Richard Donahue and his wife Elizabeth of Deerfield, FL; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years Pauline Stephanou and four brothers Pandelis, Nicholas, Eli, and George Stephanou.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 12 Noon at the Slater Hall Auditorium on the campus of the Norwich Free Academy, 305 Broadway, Norwich, friends and family are encouraged at that time to share a story or memory of Stephen. Burial to follow in Maplewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Stephen's memory may be made to the Assoc. of Religious Communities c/o Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold PJ, 325 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810. Arrangements are by the Labenski Funeral Home.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Stephen STEPHANOU
Tony George Petros
September 27, 2022
I was born in Steve's home in 1936. His parents were my God-Parents. Steve was a good man. He took us kids from Thames Street to the East Side and trained us in boxing. My first and only fight was at the old Arena on Boswell Ave. I attended his funeral service at NFA. So long Steve.
Loving Niece, Elaine John Constantine
October 11, 2021
We miss you & Aunt Polly, Uncle Steve, and we all cherish & often share our happy memories of you both.
Stephen Cercone
January 31, 2012
I just learned that Steve died and it made me very sad. My condolences to the Stephanou family. My dad, Guy Cercone, was one of Steve's best friends in Norwich. Steve gave my dad the nickname Monk and it stuck. He always called him Monk up until my dad died in 1988. My dad had moved to Norwich at 14 years old and he didn't know anyone at NFA. Steve took Monk under his wing and they became lifelong friends. When I was born in 1959, Steve was visiting Boston on business and stopped by the hospital to see my mom and dad. My parents promptly named me Stephen. Steve was one of the only people who ever called me "Stevie". I have always been very proud of where my name came from and the friendship Steve and Monk shared for 50+ years.
Rest in peace Steve. You did very well in your life.
October 23, 2011
Uncle Steve will be remembered always with love and laughter. He was always such a good friend to Dad and visited often when we were kids. It has been a long time since we saw each other but there will always be a soft spot in my heart for him. Kay Constantine Melissare
Elaine Constantine Troy
October 23, 2011
"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Today at Slater Hall Memorial Auditorium at Norwich Free Academy, we gathered in great numbers to celebrate Steve Stephanou's life on earth; the enthusiastic outpouring of loving memories shared by family and friends of all ages and walks of life was heartwarming, tearful and joyful. A long meandering line of cars wound their way to Maplewood Cemetery where our dear one was laid to rest.
A Memorial Service for Steve Stephanou will be held today, Sunday October 23rd, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on Fullerton Avenue in Newburgh, NY, according to Hope Stephanou. All are Welcome to come worship together and light a candle for our dearly departed Steve, and to remember all our loved ones whose heavenly company he has joined.
Paul Durr
October 21, 2011
Johnny, Stephanie and Mark
I am truly sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad. He truly was a GREAT MAN!!!! I will always remember how positive he was about everything and believed that anything was possible.
He and your mom were so wonderful to our family and I can't tell you how much we appreciated all they did for us. You couldn't ask for better neighbors!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
Paul
October 20, 2011
Dear Mark, Stephanie,John, Richard and Elizabeth,
Violet, Scott , his wife Crystal and I would like to send our heart felt sympathy to all of you on the passing of Steve. We have so many memories of great times our families have shared over the many years. Steve ,Polly and all of you are always thought of fondly during the Christmas season , as we shared so many of them together .
With Love ,
Laurie Pepin
Elaine Constantine Troy
October 19, 2011
Today, our Dad's 98 year old cousin, our dear Uncle Steve Stepanou fell asleep in Our Lord. After John-John and Patti drove up to visit Uncle Steve as they often did, as soon as they heard from Stephanie that he was in the hospital, my Mom (Angie Constantine), my daughter and I followed Pano's son Mitchell, and George Kachou, up to New Haven later in the week, and we all left feeling so fortunate and happy to have visited Uncle Steve, to talk and even laugh... and kiss goodbye. Uncle Steve's wonderful daughter, strong, upbeat, loving and caring Stephanie told us her Dad hadn't eaten or drunk for a couple days and that his kidneys were failing, but Uncle Steve looked beautiful! and as always, so much younger than his years. Wishing to sit up in a chair across the room, he tried several times to subtly orchestrate his escape from his bed, (and from the hospital) with the help of his nephew Mitch and George...but the nurses wouldn't allow it. Uncle Steve wanted to "get the heck out of there and go home" and got his wish when Stephanie was allowed to bring her Dad back to his home soon after; She told us he asked for and actually consumed an entire cheeseburger!! We all thought, "Wow, maybe he's going to pull through this!" Uncle Steve was CELCO NJ's North Eastern Salesman and customer liason since the 1950's, and we kids looked forward to his visit to CELCO every week for many many years. Uncle Steve always had amusing stories for us all, chuckling, eyes smiling, he would tell us about the great little Italian restaurants he would find to wine and dine favorite customers, and we knew they always looked forward to his visit as well. Uncle Steve graduated from Bucknell w/a major in History, and was even a Bucknell Hall of Famer! and a keen wrestling coach. He also looked forward to his summer vacations, and would travel with his adorble, adored bundle of joy, his Irish wife, Aunt Polly with sparkling eyes and red hair. Uncle Steve read widely and continually, and would always share and discuss his most recently read books with you, teach you some useful Greek phrases, and even give little John-John a haircut when needed. He was our Dad's beloved cousin from childhood; we could always feel their bond of loyalty, love and friendship, and looked forward to Uncle Steve's refreshing presence at our dinner table at "the CELCO house" whenever he rolled into town. (According to John, Jr. and George, Uncle Steve still called in to the office every week, and only last week when he was in the hospital, did they realize that he had missed calling in, they told me!) We all love and miss Our Uncle Steve, but are joyful that he is with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and hopefully hanging out again with his heavenly family and Aunt Polly, our Dad John Constantine, Sr and other cousins, Pete, Lizzie, Kay, Ginny, and all his multitude of dear family and friends who await him in Eternity.
Our prayers are with Uncle Steve's children, Mark and Johnny and Stephanie and his loving grandchildren.
October 19, 2011
Dear Mark, Stephanie and Jon my sympathy goes out to you. Uncle Steve was such a funny, kind person with so many stories. He always looked sharp with his (real bow tie - I was impressed) and his big smile. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. Love cousin Lynne
October 19, 2011
Steph and family,
Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of your father. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
Gigi Stanley Little
Mary Jane Wahlmeier
October 18, 2011
My prayers and thoughts are with you. I didn't know him but from the condolences he must have been a good man.
paul and sande constantine
October 18, 2011
we, too, cherish many happy memories of uncle steve who always had that big, warm, welcoming smile and jovial
spirit to go along with the "bow
tie". we spent a good bit of
time together "on the road" for celco. it was always great to be with uncle steve and i could always count on him to know where the good restaurants were.
uncle steve was a great example of a life well lived. we send our condolences to his entire family.
Stephen J Stephanou, Bucknell Hall of Fame 1938
Michelle Buchholz
October 18, 2011
We will truly miss Uncle Steve. He was one of a kind in so many good ways! Always positive, always a smile and a kind word, great family stories, and always a bow tie! If we could all learn to enjoy life just as he did the world would be a joyous place! We will all surely miss you Uncle Steve! Our heartfelt condolences to Mark, Stephanie, Jon and their wonderful families who watched over you and Aunt Polly. I know you were one proud dad.
Much love,
Gene, Michelle and Kimberly
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