Istvan Steven Varga

István Steven Varga died peacefully with his children by his bedside on March 14, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, sibling, son, and friend to so many who knew his kindness and wisdom. He is survived by his wife, Susan Varga, his brother Gyuri Varga, his children Peter Varga and Juliette Rooney-Varga, and his grandchildren, Caleb, Jordan, and Nathaniel Rooney.

Born István Weisz on May 24, 1935 in Budapest, Hungary. He did not know a childhood that was free of the fears and loss caused by the Shoah, which took his father, his uncle, and countless others from his community. To protect both him and his brother, his mother, Aranka Weisz, had her children converted to Protestantism and changed their surname to Varga. Despite these changes, he never shook his deep sense of connection to his Jewish identity, which only grew stronger in his later years.

He fled Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, arriving in New York City as a refugee who was welcomed by the United States. After a brief introduction to the English language, he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Columbia University and then a doctoral degree in engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In New York, he met his wife Susan (née Zsuzsa Cecilia Braun) and they were married June 5, 1966. Together, they raised children Juliette and Peter in Newton, where they resided for many years.

His career as a structural engineer and partner at Weidlinger Associates had a profound and positive influence on many people. He launched and grew its Cambridge location into one of the most successful engineering firms of its size. His colleagues referred to him as a brilliant and visionary engineer and leader. His work contributed to transformative projects – from Boston’s “Big Dig” to its Museum of Fine Arts. His approach to management not only focused on rigor and quality but also on care and commitment to the people he worked with. Steve enjoyed imparting his wisdom to younger engineers in his firm and with his teaching at Harvard University. Always thinking, Steve relished philosophical discussions with his friends and grandchildren.

He was a devoted father and grandfather and always eager to make time for the top priority in his life - his family. As a father, he cherished long walks to hash out education, career, and life plans with his children. And later, there was nothing he loved more than hours playing chess, working through math problems, or talking about science and philosophy with his grandchildren.

Steve had a love of classical music and played violin in local orchestras. He especially enjoyed spending time at his home on Cape Cod, enjoying the fresh air and ocean.

Most importantly, he was deeply loved by the many people whose lives he touched. His kindness, intellect, gentle wisdom, and wit will be sorely missed.