Steve was one of the first seniors at Arthur Andersen in Houston that gave me my first S Corporation to prepare in 1979. When I was starting he was already a senior. I left in 1982 as a tax senior to return to graduate school , he was still there as a tax manager. Many years later we saw each other with the Texas Society of CPAs doing separate federal tax update seminars. He was incredibly kind to me after I  suffered a serious fall injury 3 years ago and took over seminars for me when I was in the hospital and I did the same for him when his health issue arose later on. To this day, I have a ruler he gave me in 1979 when I was doing my first S corporation for him. The ruler was a jagged edge ruler and he was very specific on work papers but more importantly knowledge. He told me that the ruler is not only meant for work product to give copies to client but the ruler is symbolic of one's own value system, the ruler is symbolic of being consistent in work product and knowledge . I never forgot that and I still have part of that ruler some 43 years later. I will miss  his good insight when I was doing federal tax updates at the same time he was. My heartfelt sympathies and my continuing thoughts to his family. His likes in the accounting profession we will  not see again. Blaise Bender, MS, MPA, CGMA, JD, CPA

No matter how busy he was, Steve’s was always available to share his tax knowledge with other professionals and clients when we worked together as tax managers at Arthur Andersen in the early 1980’s. It was no surprise to me years later when I ran into him at TXCPA seminars and I found out that he was the most popular instructor at the seminars. Often there were waiting lists to get into his classes. Steve was a very intelligent, kind and unselfish individual. He not only explained the practical application of tax laws very well, he also made it interesting. He set a very high standard for instructors and thus he is leaving behind some very big shoes for future instructors to fill.

I have attended Steve's tax updates for longer than I care to remember. Steve also spoke at many of the annual Tax Institutes sponsored by the Fort Worth Chapter each Summer. As a sole practitioner, I reached out to him on more than one occasion for technical advice. He never failed to respond to me and did so very quickly. On several occasions, rather than just respond to me by email, he would call me personally to discuss the issues. He never failed to go above and beyond.  He will certainly be missed by the CPA community. God's peace and comfort to his family.

Although I didn't know Steve personally, I looked forward his annual updates and  continuing education classes.   As both a CPA and CFP, over the years, I learned a lot from him.  I  will truly miss being able to hear his updates and wisdom.  God bless.

Rest in peace Steven.  Thank you for years of service to the CPA community.  You were my favorite TAX UPDATE continuing education sponsor.  You were an invaluable resource which the CPA community will surely miss. For those that attended your classes, we are all better practitioners because of your devotion to the practice.  

I had never met a tax professional/speaker as knowledgeable  and energetic as Steve.  He definitely had a special gift which he used for the benefit of his fellow CPAs.  May his memory be eternal and may his family find peace and comfort in the memories that he leaves behind.  

So sorry to hear of Steve's passing.  For the past 10 years or so I looked forward to his tax update class here in Austin and it was always fun as well as educational. Steve had a great gift for teaching and keeping you interested, but he always had a little bit of good humor in the mix as well. I will miss those classes and his smile.  I also enjoyed the times we actually got to have a chat during class and I appreciate his getting back to me on a question I thought he might have the answer to. Thanks Steve. I will miss you!

I didn't know Steve personally but I looked forward to each continuing education class I took from him. I always knew I would learn new things each time and become a better CPA. I will truly miss being able to learn from Steve.

Steven was my primary tax updates for more than twenty years.  I am sorry that he passed, except I hope he is now in Heaven with the Lord and Jesus Christ.

Bob Hulme
bhulme2003@yahoo.com


Rarely have I encountered such a knowledgeable and magnetic speaker on the subject of tax. I would look forward to his seminars with the attitude of someone who gets education, entertainment and fulfillment simultaneously. Kudos to the Professor who will be missed by the tax fraternity and especially those who wish to be educated quickly and effortlessly.

Steve was a phenomenal CPA and an authority on Tax Laws. We the Houston CPAs always looked forward to hear from him every Tax Expo in January. His stories and experiences with the Ranchers and Farmers for whom he educated to be on the right side of the law. The 2022 tax expo was a gloomy event without his energy and passion with which he delivered his seminars. He will be truly missed. 
Swapan Dhairyawan 
MD & Associates LLP


I didn't know Steve personally, but I looked forward to seeing him every year for a tax update. Tax season won't be the same again. I will miss Steve.

I met Steve when we were colleagues at BDO in the early 80s. He was a stern taskmaster, but also an extremely brilliant tax professional. In fact, he probably received a royalty every time someone looked up "brilliant" in the dictionary. I thoroughly enjoyed and learned tremendously from Steve's tax presentations over the last two decades, and  it was nice getting to catch up with him briefly each time. I even got to hand out the Snickers bars once!  RIP to a good friend and mentor.

I am shocked and truly saddened to learn of Steve's death.  I have benefited from his tax updates for CPAs for several years.  They were the best.  Both his written materials and his speaking were top-notch.  He will be missed.

I am sorry to hear about Steve's death. I was looking forward to seeing him in Houston for the annual tax update class, which I enjoyed tremendously for many years. His death is a great loss to the profession. He made this tax work interesting with his stories.
Best wishes and he lived a great life in the profession.
Randell M Naquin, CPA
Pearland, Texas 

I was shocked at the news today about Steve's death. I know that I join many colleagues in expressing sadness and a huge sense of loss! Steve was a superb educator, and a brilliant mind as a CPA professional.  We will miss him dearly and wish his family my condolences, and a sense of gratitude for sharing him with us all these years. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

God Bless our former colleague and long time friend. You will be missed. 

Cindy and Gary Walther

Steve and I were young tax managers at Arthur Andersen in the late 1970's early 1980s. I remember spending quite a bit of time in his office talking technical but also laughing and enjoying each other. Our paths after Andersen took us in different directions but we stayed in touch as we both found our way in our careers. Steve was a genuine nice guy and one heck of a tax professional.  I will truly miss him. 

I had the honor to conduct Texas Extension Education Foundation, Inc. tax workshops with Steve for many years.

He was a brilliant man.  He was also a great colleague and friend.
I want to extend my deepest sympathy to his family at this time.  He will be greatly missed.

So many of us were guided through the maze of taxation by Steve; he managed to make us "super stars" in our clients eyes. His ability to communicate and share his knowledge enabled us, and our clients, to benefit from his wisdom. A good man leaving us all such a great legacy!

Me. Tillinger was always so kind to me. He lived in the condominiums and it won't be the same without you! 

 For the last 15 years I have looked forward to Steve's yearly cpe class in Houston.   He was amazing at holding my attention for 8 hours of a tax update seminar.  Steve I will miss you! RIP

Steve will be missed so much.  His tax updates were always so informative and he made it interesting to learn.  And he was always wiling to answer questions in person and by email.  As wonderful as he was to us as CPA's, I am sure his family will miss such a wonderful person like Steve.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

I always looked forward to Steve's tax updates every year.    He knew what he taught and he enjoyed it.  His excitement for tax updates and tax law was infectious.   During the tax update class he taught at our office each year,  Steve always left a mini snickers at each person's spot/ chair for after the lunch breaks.  He took the time on the small window of a break to do this.   The snickers did help with the after lunch tireds.     He will be greatly missed.  Angie Hebble, CRI, Houston, TX

Steve was a wonderful smart funny man.  I knew him back when he was a tax manager at BDO in Houston.  I was just a staff but I would help critique him when he was learning to speak publicly.  Always enjoyed him every year when he came to Houston to teach us tax updates.  Things won't ever be the same.  So sad.  

I’ve been attending Steve's Federal Tax Update class since 1992! I really enjoyed his classes and I looked forward to them every year. He will be greatly missed. May he Rest In Peace. 
Rozella L. Hernandez 

Steve was a great friend and wonderful instructor.  We shared many meals together discussing politics, Congress, and classical music stations.  He will be greatly missed by me and the CPA community.  Jim Lockart, CPA

Steve was a great presenter and made learning the new tax laws fun and interesting. He will be missed,


OBITUARY

Steven J. Tillinger

October 8, 1946 – January 4, 2022

Funeraria Del Angel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services