Stephen Ming Pai

Stephen M. Pai, 90, of Raleigh, NC passed away on November 19, 2025.

Steve was born Sze-Ming Pai in Nanking, China on December 10, 1934 to Dr. Shih-I Pai and Chi-Yu Feng. Steve emigrated to the United States in 1950 at age 15 with his parents and siblings. The family settled in Beltsville, Maryland, as Steve’s father Dr. Shih-I Pai was a professor of Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Maryland. Steve graduated from the University of Maryland in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He went on to obtain his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964, completing his degree by taking classes at night while he worked as an engineer during the day.

Steve married Annabel Huang on April 26, 1969. They welcomed their first daughter Vicky while in Maryland. Steve worked as an electrical engineer at Westinghouse (later known as ABB) first in Baltimore and then later in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the family grew to include two more daughters Valerie and Veronica. While at Westinghouse, Steve helped design an electrical meter that automatically sent usage data back to the power company, and he received a patent for this work. Steve later worked at Square D until his retirement in 1998.

Steve had multiple health challenges in the last several years, but he would rally and persevere. This earned him the nickname the “Energizer Bunny” from his daughters.

Steve’s interests included basketball, tennis, vegetable gardening, mah-jong, and watching sports of all kinds including basketball, football, and tennis. His daughters even once saw him watching lacrosse games. Steve was a longtime fan of the University of Maryland basketball, and in recent years became a fan of the WNBA. He thought that the women’s NBA games were more interesting than the men’s games.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother Chi-Yu Feng, his father Dr. Shih-I Pai, his stepmother Alice Wang Pai, and his brother Robert Pai. Steve is survived by his wife Annabel Huang Pai; daughters Vicky Lerner (son-in-law Joshua Lerner), Valerie Jong (son-in-law James Jong), and Veronica Pai; and grandchildren Isabella Jong and Emily Jong.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, located at 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609, on November 29, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.