Steven E. Huizinga's Obituary
Steven E. Huizinga, a retired loss prevention specialist, passed away at the age of 68 on July 27, surrounded by his family in his home in Millersville, MD.
Steve was born in Saigon, Vietnam and spent several years in an orphanage there. He was adopted by Frederick and Alice Huisinga and became a naturalized citizen soon after. He grew up in Yuma, AZ with three younger siblings, Kathryn, Christine and Paul and attended Saint Francis Elementary and Kofa High School. After spending time in Hawaii and Europe, Steve moved to the Pacific Northwest and later Palm Springs, CA where he ran several restaurants.
Steve married Patricia Ferciot in 1984 when she was serving in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, CA. Throughout her 22-year Navy career and their marriage of 39 years, they raised two wonderful daughters, Kathryn and Sarah, and transferred to various locations including Ohio, Georgia, Maryland, Sicily and Iceland.
Steve had the advantage, that many fathers don’t, of becoming very close to his daughters while they were growing up. His schedule was flexible, allowing him to always be there for them, even while his wife was busy with the Navy.
Steve taught tennis to some local high school children, and ran tennis tournaments including one that was the first of its kind, pitting members of the their Sicilian community with those of the Americans serving at Naval Air Station Sigonella. He was known for his random acts of kindness that included drive-by Starbucks or Bee Bar coffee deliveries to high school teachers and to Kathryn, Sarah, and the people they worked with over the years. He was always the father who would provide transportation for the girls and their friends, and was a designated driver when needed. He also volunteered to chaperone Kathryn’s history class trip to various locations in Europe tied to the World Wars.
Steve took retail loss prevention very seriously and provided excellent security at the Navy Exchange in Sicily and Iceland, and at various Maryland retail locations. Additionally, Steve volunteered as a bagger and as a head bagger at the commissary at Naval Support Activity in Annapolis. While there, he was a positive influence on the other baggers, promoting exemplary work habits and positive customer experiences.
Steve is survived by his wife, his daughter Kathryn of Tacoma, Washington, Sarah and her husband Jesse Weston, of Lansing, Michigan, and his brother and sisters.
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