Steve Shaper

Stephen Jay Shaper passed away peacefully on Friday, the 14th of February 2025, surrounded by family. Steve was born on the 7th of October 1936 in Houston to Charles Harry Shaper and Ruth Livesco Shaper. He attended Lanier Junior High, Lamar High School, and graduated from Principia School in St. Louis. He received his B.S. in Engineering from Rice Institute and his MBA from Harvard Business School. It was during his senior year at Rice that he met Sue Zigenbein, beginning a lifelong adventure together. Steve served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany in 1961. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserve for a decade.

Prior to his military service, Steve worked for Texas Instruments. Upon discharge from the army he worked at the family business, Metal Window Products, with his father. Throughout his life, he thrived with an entrepreneurial spirit, often active in multiple companies in multiple roles, working alongside in, co-owning or owning over 100 small businesses. In 1987 he joined TeleCheck, eventually assuming the role of president, a position he held until his retirement. Steve was the consummate mentor to friends, family and business associates throughout his life, as he embraced, engaged with and advised others on their aspirations, goals and business opportunities.

Steve and Sue were founding members of the Houston Racquet Club. Steve served on the boards of Adventure Unlimited Ranches, The Branch School, Seventh Church of Christ Scientist, Rice University, The Albert Baker Fund and The Principia, where he was honored this fall to be elected to Trustee Emeritus. He served as President of Principia’s Alumni Association, and he was the recipient of Principia’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. Steve was a longtime member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and cherished the relationships he formed within that community.

A member of the Seventh Church of Christ Scientist, Steve was a dedicated congregant, teacher, and leader of the community. He lived in action, word and deed by the principles of his faith, with an understanding of God as all-powerful, and defined with seven synonyms: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love.

Steve rarely sat still. At the time of his passing he kept regular office hours and continued to participate on committees and boards about which he was passionate. He enthusiastically enjoyed his weekly handball games for almost 60 years, and in 2012 he and his longtime handball partner Max Esses came in third place at the United States Handball Association national tournament in the senior bracket. And when Steve was not berry picking or driving their jet boat around Lake Conroe towing water skiers, he was always up for a game of horseshoes. Steve enjoyed manning the grill and as a firm believer in the "clean your plate club” he loved barbecue, James Coney Island, Shipley’s Donuts, any flavor of ice cream available and Dr Pepper. Family, friends and neighbors will fondly recall over 50 years of Sue and Steve’s annual “Christmas Tree Burning” party in their backyard on Ripple Creek, with hot dogs, chili, Felix’s queso and s’mores for all. As a side note, the family was delighted to find his list of senior discounts available throughout Houston that he kept in his contacts book.

A longtime admirer of Leroy Neiman, Steve had one of the preeminent collections of the artist in the country. If there was yard work to be done, particularly related to those pesky weeds, he attacked it with vigor. He and Sue enjoyed a good bridge game with friends, and in later years his grandchildren could count on GrandSteve to be present at and enthusiastic about their athletic games and art performances. For decades, Steve was in charge of the Hot Dog Booth at The Kinkaid School’s annual Field Day, a role his sons revived and carry on to this day. He relished having his family together for decades at their homes on Lake Conroe and, an avid snow skier, later in Vail and Telluride. These homes were magnets for their children, their friends and the next generation, a testament to Steve’s unlimited welcoming personality. This past November he was delighted to check off a bucket list item by traveling to Cuba with his son Peter. Always ready with a smile, a dry wit, an analytical mind, unerring integrity and a generous heart, Steve was a mentor and cheerleader for family and friends in their personal and professional lives. He was a man of uncommon kindness, generosity and goodwill.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, brother Roger Terry Shaper and sister Susan Shaper Rehmeyer. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Sue Zigenbein Shaper; his children Peter Todd Shaper and wife Amy Hendin Shaper, Charles Park Shaper and wife Mary Eliza Lovett Shaper, Page Shaper Haun and husband Bzur Haun, and Clarence Penn Shaper and wife Laurel Crabtree Shaper. His twelve grandchildren to whom he was devoted are Jake Benson Shaper, Riley Jane Shaper, Ben Henry Shaper, Charles Lovett Shaper and wife Melanie Knight Shaper, Nell Bennett Shaper, Stephen Jeffers Shaper, Hamer Zane Haun, Tempo Haun, Zigi Haun, Kee Wakefield Shaper, Lainey Vail Shaper and Warner Sands Shaper. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Judith Rowland Shaper and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the technicians, nurses and doctors of the Memorial Hermann Hospital, Medical Center for their unflagging attention to and care of Steve.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half past four o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 22nd of February in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

For those unable to attend the service in-person, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting Steve’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon on the service section. While there the family would like to collect stories about and remembrances of Steve. For those who wish to share, one may do so by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon to upload memories or videos for everyone to enjoy.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Steve’s name may be directed to Rice University, in support of the Sue & Steve Shaper Scholarship Fund (#121909). Memorial contributions may be sent to the Office of Development, MS-81, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251, or by visiting online at giving.rice.edu.