Stephen GV Sombor

Stephen Sombor, 78, died Wednesday December 17 at Saratoga Hospital. He spent his last week in the company of family and old friends. He is survived by his wife Lucy Clark and his children Peter Sombor and Arlo Sombor. He is predeceased by his father Harry Sombor, originally from Hungary and mother Gerd Sombor (née Andersson), originally from Sweden. Born December 23, 1946 in Cleveland OH, Stephen spent much of his childhood in Brooklyn NY, before moving to Baldwinsville NY. He graduated from Baldwinsville High School. After moving to Schenectady County with his parents at 18, he attended Hudson Valley Community College. He received his BS in Education from Lyndon State College, and his MS in Educational Communications from U Albany. From 1971-1973 he served in the US Army, stationed at Fort Monmouth, NJ. In 1975 he worked in the Canadian pavilion at the Okinawa world’s fair. He had a long career working for the State of New York, including for the State Commission on Cable Television and the Public Service Commission. He developed an interest in Amateur Radio at a young age, a hobby he continued throughout his life. He could often be found repairing electronics, or recording and editing videos of school plays and community events. Stephen found great joy in music and dance throughout his life. He met his wife Lucy at a contra dance in 1983. He was active in the community dance scene, inviting the whole family along to the Old Songs Festival, the Dance Flurry, and any other opportunity to contra dance. After Parkinson’s disease made it too difficult to dance, he continued to play fiddle tunes and waltzes on the violin and viola, and attended Sacred Harp sings as often as he was able. He enjoyed teaching and the outdoors, which made him a natural Boy Scout leader. He volunteered for years as a Den Leader and then Scout Master for BS troop 31 in Niskayuna. He was also an avid cyclist. When he could no longer ride a bike, he switched to a recumbent tricycle and spent many joyful hours riding all over the capital region. Active for many years at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, he volunteered as a greeter, wrangling young people coming up from Sunday School to help ring the church bells. For years, he recorded the monthly Service for the Deaf. He spent hours recording, editing, and delivering the final edited tape to the Schenectady Public Access Channel for broadcast. He spent time in several church homes throughout his life, including Dutch Reform, Baptist, and the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), and found meaning and good community in each one. Stephen was a good friend, a devoted and loving father, and had a wickedly delightful sense of humor. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, to help a stranger feel welcome, or to make someone laugh. He was a kind man, and will be deeply missed. Service Saturday 12/20 at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Schenectady at 1:30pm. The family requests no flowers.

Stephen GV Sombor

December 23, 1946 - December 17, 2025