Born in New York City on April 3, 1953, Stephen was the only son of Arthur and Eva Abarbanel. Stephen grew up in North Bellmore, New York, spending many summers at L’Ecole Arcadie, a French language summer school, in Bar Harbor under the tutelage of the founder and his friend, Dick Gott, and where he taught while in college. Stephen earned a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1975 and a JD from the New England School of Law in 1978. Following law school, Stephen moved to Boston and worked in several different legal roles including as counsel for Hanover Insurance and as an associate for Robinson + Cole. He was active with the American Bar Association and served over the years on a number of their committees.
Stephen married Ruth Cleveland Robertson in September,1983, and, until her death in July 2008, they lived and worked in Boston, spending their free time at their second home in Wonalancet, New Hampshire. Besides his wife, Ruth, he is predeceased by his parents Eva Vrzalova Abarbanel and Arthur Abarbanel. Ruth and Stephen were very fond of the many cats they had over the years, and so, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
