Stephen Soroka

Born in New York City in 1946, Steve grew up in the Northeast Bronx. He was the youngest of 3 brothers. He attended Public School 78, and later graduated at the bottom of his class from the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. He graduated from the State University of NY at Buffalo in 1967. That same year, he entered the Peace Corps volunteer services and taught English, history, and surprisingly mathematics and biology at Muhoho High School in Gatundu, Kenya from 1967 to 1969.

In the fall of 1970 he enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles where he met his soulmate and future wife Salma Mbaye (Soroka). He graduated with a master’s degree in anthropology in 1972. He took a job teaching anthropology at John Abbott College, just outside of Montreal, Quebec for many years until his retirement in 2008. His progressive courses on race and racism were very popular, and throughout his life’s journey he lived what he taught. Steve spent almost every summer since he was born on Lake George, New York which was his Dar es Salaam (Arabic for Abode of Peace.) There, Steve was an enthusiastic fisherman, camper, boater, kayaker, swimmer, berry picker and dock builder. His fervor for the outdoors led him to take several fishing trips with his big brother in the rivers and ocean of the west coast.

Steve is survived by his wife Salma, big brother Alan, sons Abraham and Noah, daughter Becky, daughters-in-law Erum and Jenni, son-in-law Mike, grandson Oliver, and granddaughters Hannah, Amelia and Safina.

Steve’s selfless commitment to help others, his resilient spirit, and joie de vivre will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and loved ones.

Please join us for a memorial on April 20th, 2024 at 2pm at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Homes at 5610 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec.

Collins Clarke MacGillivray White will webcast the funeral ceremony of Stephen Soroka on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 3:20 PM EDT to 4:40 PM EDT.

You can view the ceremony live or on replay at: https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/d0c2e246-ebda-4d9a-b190-2b4952b459ff.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund would please him.

https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/general