Stephen Allen Kallis Jr's Obituary
LTJG, Stephen A. Kallis, Jr., 86 passed away peacefully at the Melech Hospice House, Temple Terrace, Florida on March 29, 2023. Stephen was born on April 24, 1937, in New York City, New York to his parents Lt. Col. Stephen A. Kallis, Sr. and Ethel Rayna (Olsen) Kallis.
He was a graduate of Columbia University, where he was in the Navy ROTC program. As the son of a career Army officer, when he graduated from college Stephen decided he wanted to join the Navy Reserves in upstate New York. After his stint, Stephen saw one of his cherished dreams come true as he was able to work with the Space Program in Huntsville, Alabama. He then went on to work for the Chrysler Corporation and Digital Electronics in Public Relations. He met and fell in love with Carmen Opreah, whom he soon married in 1985 and was truly the love of his life. Stephen and Carmen chose to settle in the city of Tampa, Florida.
In his early years, at the age of four and a half, he experienced the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His memory of it was "standing on the edge of the doorway watching dust motes."
Stephen had a passion for space exploration, rockets, and Captain Midnight. He authored and published a book on Captain Midnight and collaborated with others who were interested in old time radio.
Stephen was predeceased by his father, Stephen A. Kallis Sr., mother, Ethel R. Kallis, and wife, Carmen Kallis. He is survived by a sister, Dorothy Jeanne Ahlers, nephew, Michael Ahlers, and two great nephews, Cooper Ahlers and Thatcher Ahlers.
The family requests that flowers be sent to Sunset Memory Gardens, Thonotosassa, Florida. There will be a funeral service held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 11am.
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