Obituary of Stephen Adorian

Stephen John Adorian, beloved husband of Deborah (Tocco) Adorian, died on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Cleveland Clinic at the age of 75. He was born on June 28, 1940 in Washington D.C. to Stephen John Adorian and Kathryn Elizabeth Grissinger Adorian (de la Montaigne). Stephen was a star athlete in lacrosse at Lafayette College in Easton, PA where he graduated in 1962, and where he was an active member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He went on to receive his Master's Degree from Ohio University in 1966 and his Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1974. The first phase of Stephen's professional life was in the field of higher education where he served as Field Secretary for Phi Gamma Delta. He was a regional manager for the university program of People-to-People Inc. He was resident director at Ohio University, Director of Housing at State University College of New York at Fredonia, Director of College Student Housing at State University College of New York at Buffalo, Director of Residence Life at Canisius College, and Associate Director of Admissions at Rosary Hill College (now Daemen College). After working as Executive Director of AFL-CIO Project Upgrade, Stephen entered the business field working as a marketing and sales consultant for Phone World, Inc., Tele-Trends, National Revenue Corporation, Ogden Telephone Company, and Micro-Age Computer Centers. In 1983 he founded Cybernetic Communications Systems, Inc. which specialized in computer sales and training. He was very active in the Eastern Niagara Chamber of Commerce, receiving the President's Award in 1991 for outstanding contributions. Stephen was a member of All Saints Parish in Lockport NY, where he served on the Finance Committee and as a lector. He was very active in all Parish activities, especially Mission and ChristLife. He was an organizer of the God-Speed 5K. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and held several offices over the years with them. He was named Knight of the Year for Lockport Council #319 in 2013 and again in 2014. He enjoyed racquetball and running. He completed the Buffalo Marathon in 2004. He was an avid Buffalo Bills fan, and enjoyed watching sports and spending time with his family. In 2012, Stephen was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He received a life-saving single-lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2014. He was a man who always remained positive and maintained a cheerful disposition. He was in training for the 5K event at the Transplant Games of America, held in Cleveland this year on June 10-15. Although he was in Cleveland, he was unable to attend this all-important event. However, the organizers of the Transplant Games surprised him with a visit in his hospital room with the official Transplant Games torch. His strong faith always sustained him, he maintained an attitude of gratitude, and he pursued goals and aspirations up until the day he died. His enduring faith and steadfast love, his amazing attitude and perseverance, his ability to see good in all situations and in all people, his beautiful smile and silly remarks are all part of the awesome legacy he leaves for his family and all who knew him. Besides his wife of 27 years, Stephen is survived by his daughter Donna (Mark) Rodriguez of Fuquay-Varina, NC; his son Bruce (Renee) Adorian of Fuquay-Varina, NC; his granddaughters Ashley Adorian, Victoria Adorian, and Valerie Rodriguez, and his great-granddaughter Kennedy Grace Ellis. He is also survived by his sister Kathryn (Richard) Brown of South Carolina; his brother Louis (Thu) Adorian of Florida, and his sister Margaret (Harvey) Silverman of Virginia. He will be dearly missed by his loving mother-in-law Yolanda Tocco. He is the brother-in-law of George and Catherine Tocco, Joseph and Jodi Tocco, Michael and Linda Greig, and Michael Tocco. He is also remembered by his loving aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, fraternity brothers, brother Knights, and numerous other relatives. Friends may call Monday, June 27 from 4-8 pm at Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St in Lockport NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am Tuesday, June 28 at All Saints Parish, Church Street in Lockport NY. Burial will follow at Glenview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Stephen J. Adorian Memorial Fund which will continue to support the many charities dear to him including UNYTS, Golf against Cancer, All Saints Parish, Knights of Columbus and the IPF foundation. Checks can be made out to STEPHEN J ADORIAN MEMORIAL FUND and mailed to 397 Ohio St, Lockport NY 14094. Condolences may be left online at www.pruddenandkandt.com.