Stephen F. Royka

Born on April 7, 1938 in Rochester, NY to Stephen Royka and Catherine (Smahol) Royka. He graduated with an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 1960. Stephen’s career highlight was while working as a Program Manager at Xerox. He created and initiated, without supervisor approval, a training course that taught Xerox employees how to become better managers. Once his superiors found out, the class was too popular and well received to stop. In 1981 he left Xerox to start his own firm as a management training consultant, with Xerox becoming his largest customer. The essence of his covert course is still being taught today more than 40 years later.

Steve was affectionately known as “Poppy” to his grandchildren – and renowned as “The Captain” to family friends. Picture the captain’s hat, mustache, beard, and pipe. That was his signature style for decades while vacationing in Cape Cod. The Captain persona extended seaward with his love of fishing, casting from the shore when the “blues were running,” and oyster fishing along the sands of Truro and Wellfleet. He was a resourceful tinkerer, fixing things Robinson Crusoe style with whatever scrap pieces he had available. He also dabbled in an eclectic mix of hobbies like stained glass art, mushroom foraging, bonsai trees, and beekeeping. He enjoyed great food and gained some cooking prowess over the years, specializing in breakfast dishes and creatively combining whatever was in the fridge. An overview of his life would not be complete without mentioning his canine kids, golden retrievers Brandy and Ginger, who he pampered with praise, pretzel treats, and beach walks.

Stephen is survived by Margaret A. Royka, his loving wife of 40 years, who he absolutely adored, often referring to her as his super hero. Stephen was the older brother to sisters Lorraine (Royka) Barcomb and Louise (Royka) Strassner. He was Poppy to eight grandchildren; Stephen Royka, Nicholas Royka, Catherine Royka, Chauncey Espinosa, Caden Royka, Roniehtakéhte Royka, Max Royka, and Luke Royka. He also leaves behind four sons; Stephen Royka of Fort Meyers, Florida, Mark Royka of Bel Air, Maryland, David Royka of Fairport, New York, and Matthew Royka of Nashville, Tennessee. During his retirement Stephen wrote a memoir of his life and provided it to his loved ones. In it he states, “My family is the most important thing in my life – having helped to bring four great sons into this world has been my life’s greatest achievement and proudest accomplishment – they are my legacy.”

Two events are planned to honor his life. In the Rochester area, relatives and friends are invited to attend memorial services on Saturday, May 20, at 9:00am at Church of the Assumption, 20 East Avenue, Fairport, New York. For the Cape Cod community, there will be an in-depth Celebration of Life service at the Truro Community Center, 7 Standish Way, North Truro, Massachusetts at 1:00pm on Friday, July 21. All are invited to attend.