Stephen Joseph Szabo

Age 82, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born December 31, 1941, in Mt. Pleasant, PA, to Margaret and Stephen Szabo.
Stephen's early life was humble and austere. He lost his father in a coal mining accident when he was 3 years old. As a young boy, he worked odd jobs to help support the family. His mother later remarried James Hazy, who became a loving father to Stephen and his sister.
Stephen's boyhood dream was to become a pilot. However, at age 16, he was badly wounded in a near fatal airplane crash causing him to be hospitalized for almost a year.
Shortly after his recovery, he redirected his goals attending cosmetology school to become a hairdresser. In 1960, he opened his first hair salon in Mt. Lebanon. He possessed a strong sense of service, engaged in lifelong learning, and genuinely cared for each of his clients. He had the ability to make each person feel like that they were the most important. With this passion, that small salon led to a network of connections throughout the global hairdressing community. Professionally, Stephen's mission was developing and educating hairdressers. Even after a 60-year career, Stephen still loved talking about hairdressing techniques and attending classes.
Stephen was an eternally positive thinker, always looking forward and believed in delaying gratification to be better. He taught his children and grandchildren the same motto that he lived by "be thy labor big or small, do it well or not at all".
Stephen had a full and active life enjoying boating, skiing, traveling, entertaining and learning. When not working, he was solely devoted to his family. Stephen and Bernadette's lifelong partnership was the cornerstone of all aspects of their lives. He was most proud of his children and grandchildren and loved his German shepherd Flora. He will be remembered for his smile, joy of life, style, generosity, and kindness. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived his wife of 61 years, Bernadette, by his children Suzanne (Diana), SJ (Brenda) and Josh (Katherine), grandchildren Eli, Linsey and Emily, as well as his sister Barbara Bilohlavek and nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Sunday April 28, 2024, at Beinhauer Funeral Home in Peters Township from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. A blessing service will be held there Monday at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Washington City Mission, www.citymission.org, 84 W. Wheeling St. Washington, PA 15301. This charity was close to Stephen's heart as he donated generously, including providing free haircuts for shelter residents.