Steven Lawrence Kovac

1937 - 2017

Steven Lawrence Kovac passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family, on November 28, 2017 after a courageous five and a half year battle with cancer. Steve was a lifelong teacher and touched countless lives over the years. His sense of humor and positive attitude even in the face of incredible hardship will be an inspiration to those of us that carry on after him. Steve was born on February 22nd, 1937 in Barberton, OH to Steve and Susan Kovac. His father was an immigrant from Yugoslavia who was an engineer on the railroads, and his mother a first generation American whose family had come from Czechoslovakia. He moved from Barberton to a farm in New Castle, PA in 1949 and the farm remained a focus and cornerstone for him for the rest of his life. He joined the United States Air Force after graduating high school in 1956, and served in Lake Champlain NY, Thule Greenland, and Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane WA. After an honorable discharge, he settled in Spokane, went to school on the GI Bill, getting a welding certificate and becoming a master welder. He worked for Garco Construction for several years after that, and spent many more doing decorative metal work for family and friends. After a few years of welding, he decided to go back to school and got his BA in Education from Easter Washington University in 1968. His first teaching assignment was with the Job Corp in Moses Lake, WA teaching at risk youth job skills. Helping kids at risk resonated strongly with him and after a year in Moses Lake moved back to Spokane becoming one of the first special education teachers in the area. After a short stint at Libby Jr High, Steve worked in the special education department at Lewis and Clark High School from 1971 until 1988. During this time he also received his Master of Education from Whitworth University in 1974, an accomplishment of which he was very proud, since he was the first in his family to go to college. He made sure he passed that love of learning and education on to his children, Dave and Joanne. In 1988 Steve transferred to the Shriner’s Hospital teaching children with orthopedic disabilities during their extended stays for surgery. He stayed at the Shriner’s until his retirement in 2004, and actually stayed on in a volunteer capacity for 2 years even after his retirement. Working with disadvantaged and disabled children was more than a career for Steve, it was a calling and the number of kids he helped through difficult times over the years is beyond counting. Steve was a traveler at heart. He lived for the road trip, traveling back and forth from Spokane, WA to New Castle, PA every summer for nearly 24 years to help his mother back on the farm. He would think nothing of packing up the car and driving the 2200 miles non-stop with just a quick nap in the car somewhere in North Dakota. Helping family was what Steve lived for, and if he could have a little adventure along the way, all the better. He was also a gifted photography, and enjoyed antiquing with his wife of 35 years, Betty. He was an avid reader and collector of historical items and considered himself a lifelong learner, often jokingly calling himself “The Old Professor”. He was the hardest working man many of us have ever known, and even into his 60s could work most 20 year olds into the ground. He was also generous to a fault, and lived to help those he loved. Any visit to his house usually included a trip through the basement or garage to find things to give away. Most importantly, though, he was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a mentor, and a friend. He was loved by many and he will be missed greatly. Steve is survived by his wife Betty Kovac, his children, David and Kris Kovac of Spokane, WA, and Joanne Kovac-Roberts and Mike Roberts of Seminole, OK, and four grandchildren; Keith Kovac, Kyle Kovac, Parker Roberts and Sydney Roberts. He is also survived by his sisters Ruth Kovac of New Castle, PA and MaryBeth Bianchi and her husband Eli of Wilmington NC, his brother Mark Kovac of California, and his niece Chanin Forsyth and her husband Will Kreierhoff in Chardon, OH. The family would like to thank Dr. Jayme Mackay, Dr. Carson Seeber, Dr. Clinton Morgan, the staff at St. Joe’s Cancer Center, and Elite Hospice of Clarkston, WA. A graveside service will be held on Friday, December 1st at 2:00 pm at Vineland Cemetery with Pastor Ole Gunderson officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Asotin County Food Bank at 1546 Maple Street, Clarkston, WA 99403, or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 1115 13th Street, Clarkston, WA 99403.