Obituary of Stephen D. Vause, Jr.
Stephen Damon Vause, Jr., 84, passed away suddenly on April 20, 2022, at Robert Wood Johnson Somerset Hospital in Somerville, New Jersey. Born in Kalihi, Hawaii, to the late Stephen Damon and Chiyo Grace (Yoshida) Vause, Steve attended the Iolani School and then moved to California and graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of California – Berkeley and then was drafted into military service.
After two years of active duty in the United States Army, Steve returned with his family to live in Hawaii. They then moved east to New York City, where he completed his reserve duties and then worked for the American Broadcasting Company analyzing data in the Marketing and Research Services department until his retirement in 1993. Remarrying, he and his new wife ultimately settled in Bound Brook, New Jersey.
An enthusiastic sports fan, Steve attended many NY Rangers, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Princeton University men's ice hockey games. He also avidly watched NY Giants football games as well as Manchester United soccer games. In his free time, he enjoyed playing the ukulele, sketching, watercolor painting, and watching classic and foreign films. In addition, Steve collected cookie jars and salt-and-pepper shakers. He took great pleasure in feeding and observing squirrels.
Steve leaves behind his loving wife, Judi, of over 28 years; his children, Jessica with husband Owen Kajiwara of Hawaii, and Zachary Vause of Oregon; his first wife and mother to his children, Sumi; his sister, Yvette Malama and her children, Bryan with wife Kaimi, Elyse with husband Felix Navarro, Reiko with husband Matt Nims, and Minoru with wife Yuko; his twin brothers, Peter and Paul Vause; his Uncle George Yoshida all of Hawaii; and his Aunt Kay Guzman of California.
At the request of the family, all services were held privately through Middlesex Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in his memory to the Art Students League of New York, 215 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019-2104 artstudentsleague.org
