Steven Dvorak, Class of 1939

Stephen Charles Dvorak, 89, of Westfield passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, June 27, 2011.

He is survived by his wife, Marga- ret Phillips Dvorak, and nieces and nephews Caroline Yates of Rochester, N.Y.; Robert Dvorak of Babylon, N.Y. and Barbara Kothe, of Waxhaw, N.C. He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Florine O. Dvorak in 1985.

Stephen was born on January 15, 1922 in the Bronx, N.Y. and attended Townsend Harris High School, Class of 1939. Stephen graduated from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture in 1950 with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

During World War II, Stephen was the first student at Webb to leave for service in the U.S. Army, serving as a technician from 1942-1946. He re- ceived a Master’s Degree in Mechani- cal Engineering from Columbia University in 1956.

Throughout his career in marine engineering, Stephen worked for N.Y. Shipbuilding Corp., Designers and Planners, J.J. Henry Co., the Hoboken Shipyard and Coastal Drydock and Repair. He also established an inde- pendent broker/dealer, Stephen Dvorak and Co., and concluded his working years at the Internal Revenue Service.

In addition to his career, Stephen had a life-long love of ships, trains and trolley cars. Until recently, he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe exploring those passions and supporting numerous not-for-profit organizations dedicated to preserving vintage methods of transportation.

He was also a devoted alumnus of Webb Institute and kept in close touch with his fellow graduates and the Institute throughout the years.

Stephen was a member of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield. He was also a Freemason.