Stephan F. Schady

East Lyme - Stephan F. Schady, 68, of 7 Enid Road, East Lyme, died May 12, 2010, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.

He was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on July 26, 1941, to Stephan W. Schady and Alice Rosemary Schady. He graduated from Mt. St. Michael High School in the Bronx in 1959, and Manhattan College in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

Steve served the next 23 years of his life in the U.S. Navy, receiving many honors. He served as a Seabee in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. He retired from eight years of active duty as a lieutenant commander and spent the next 15 years in the Naval Reserves.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Betsy Schady of East Lyme; his sons, Steve Schady Jr. of Boston, and Tom Schady and wife, Heather, of Chicago; his brothers, Michael J. Schady and Thomas J. Schady, FMS, and mother, Alice Schady, all of New York.

After four years as a planner in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, he worked as the maintenance engineer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in New London until his retirement in 1997.

Steve was very active in the community over the years, teaching and coaching youth in the Cub Scouts, Little League, and shooting sports. Most recently, he tutored students in math at Waterford public schools. Steve was an advocate for the veteran's community as a member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He assisted other veterans in processing VA claims and spoke at area high schools sharing his Vietnam experience.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, at the Thomas L. Neilan and Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 17, at St. Francis Chapel in Niantic. He will be interned later this year at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve's memory should be made to the Norwich Vet Center, #2 Cliff St., Norwich CT 06360.

Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com for directions, to sign the family's online guestbook, or to view a video tribute.