- Date Of Birth: October 19, 1944
- Date Of Death: August 17, 2013
- State: Maine
Stephen “Steve” Zoltan Kecskemethy
October 19, 1944
August 17, 2013
Stephen “Steve” Zoltan Kecskemethy, 68, of Portland, Maine, passed away at home on August 17 after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born October 19, 1944 in East Chicago, Indiana, to Joseph and Elizabeth Kecskemethy, Stephen and his older brother Joseph grew up in an orphanage run by his parents for Hungarian immigrants in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. He attended public schools in Ligonier and Washington, D.C. and graduated cum laude from the Eastman School of Music, where he later served on the trustee board.
In 1969 Portland Symphony Conductor Paul Vermel formed the Portland String Quartet, from section chairs first violinist Stephen Kecskemethy, 2nd violinist Ronald Lantz, violist Julia Adams, and cellist Paul Ross, a partnership that lasted for 43 years. They performed and taught throughout the United States, Japan, Russia, South America, and Europe, and were recently recognized by Chamber Music America for outstanding service and cultural contributions. A Harvard Business School instructional film of the PSQ is used worldwide as a model of teamwork. The Quartet has especially close ties with the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community.
Steve holds an honorary Doctorate in Music from Colby College and served on the faculties of Queens University in Ontario, Canada, and the applied music faculties of Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby Colleges. He was particularly proud of the Capital Strings, a string orchestra he founded for talented young musicians with Betsy Kobayashi of the Pineland Suzuki School.
On August 17, 1996 Steve married Shirley Helfrich in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, who enjoyed reading, Scarborough Beach, following sports, film discussions, hiking, and traveling. He was an avid fisherman and held a pilot’s license in his younger days. Known for his abundant hugs and kisses Steve was a lover of people and stories. He was extremely proud of his Hungarian heritage and spoke the language fluently. He was an active member of Woodford’s Congregational Church and a deeply spiritual person.
Steve is pre-deceased by daughter Sofia Claudine Kecskemethy, his parents, and brother Joseph. He is survived by his loving wife Shirley Helfrich of Portland, step-daughter Elisabeth “Lisa”Anne Helfrich of New York City, and his children from a former marriage to Priscilla Irene Kecskemethy, daughter Delina Elizabeth Hurder and husband Jason Hurder of Gorham, son “Zoli” Zoltan Kecskemethy and daughter Eva Marie Kecskemethy of Portland, grandsons Everett and Nolan Hurder of Gorham, and sisters-in law Sue Kecskemethy of Baden, Pennsylvania, Linda Ladd of Windham and Janet Foran of Lansing, Michigan.
The family wishes to extend their deep gratitude to Dr. Fred Aronson and his staff, and to Hospice of Southern Maine for their kind and compassionate care.
