A. Kenneth "Ken" Stepka

Ken was born April 20, 1955 in Pittsburgh, to Anthony and Hilda (Kowalski) Stepka. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Winston Salem, NC and, primarily, Annandale, VA and graduated from Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria. Ken went on to the University of Virgina, Charlottesville where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity, and graduated in 1977 with a BA degree in Psychology. In 2009, he completed a MS degree in Information Management from Syracuse University. A longtime federal employee, Ken started his procurement career with the Marine Corps in Albany, GA, and soon after, was hired by the Naval Air Systems Command in Arlington where he worked for many years. Later, he went to work for NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC as a procurement analyst, with a focus on information management. He retired from the Government in 2010. Since then, in addition to a host of volunteer activities, he has worked part-time in Apple Store customer service, and as a basketball referee, free-lance events coordinator, and occasional election official.

In 1989, Ken married Karen Hallgren, and eventually settled in Annandale, where they had three children. Ken is survived by Karen and their children, Rachel, Sarah, and Andrew Stepka. He also leaves three sisters, Carol (Robert) Carter, Susan Stepka, and Karen (David) Dee, as well as two brothers, Thomas (Loretta) Stepka, and Jim (Maria Gonzales) Stepka. In addition, he leaves fifteen nieces and nephews, along with several of their spouses, and many dear friends.

Ken earned the rank of Eagle Scout in high school, which set his path from an early age into a life of citizenship, service and character. He was exemplary in all of his roles as a father, son, brother, friend and neighbor. In a variety of capacities, he was active in his children’s elementary and high schools, the Camelot neighborhood association and pool board, in his MG Car Club, as a longtime volunteer AARP Tax Advisor, as a member of the Orlean Chain Saw Posse and, most recently, and as an enthusiastic and dogged organizer of his high school class 50th reunion. As anyone who knew him was aware, Ken continually made himself available to friends and family for yard and home care help and guidance, technical assistance, and Apple care expertise.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent either to Catholic Relief Services (https://support.crs.org), Class of 1973 Bishop Ireton Scholarship Fund (bishopireton.org/give), or the Land Trust of Virginia (www.landtrustva.org).