Stephen Pitts, Sr.

Stephen “Steve” Pitts, Sr. passed away in his home surrounded by love and family on March 8, 2024.  

Born in Philadelphia, Steve was the son of the late Jack and Alfreda Pitts. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Adelle R. Pitts, and his sister, Gloria Russell. 

Steve was a charismatic man who lit up the room when he entered. He was a friend to all and thrived on giving his time and talents to do things for others. He enjoyed being outside, working on the lawn at his house on Donna Drive, grilling on the barbecue, and playing cards. He loved to cook for family and friends or treat them to dinner at his favorite restaurants. He loved college football, always rooting for Penn State, and on any given Saturday morning you could find him enjoying breakfast and reading the paper at the Eagle Diner.   He played golf several times a week at Five Ponds Golf Course, and he cultivated decades-long friendships with his group of golf buddies. He also deeply cherished his relationships with neighbors and his friends from the Erzgebirge Club. Due to his fierce love and protectiveness of those he cared about, he liked to be known as the “Wolf”.   Steve enjoyed traveling, whether going on golf trips or flying as far as Japan or France. He loved Wawa coffee, stuffed cabbage, and sweet treats but with no icing. Steve made a mean Manhattan, and he was the creator of the “Southampton Cooler”, a refreshing drink perfect for summer. He could often be heard raising his glass and toasting ”Na Zdravie”. He was very proud of his Slovak heritage, and he frequently talked about his summers at his Uncle Andy's family farm when he was a boy.

Steve worked for Haydon Bolts in Philadelphia for his entire career of over 50 years, working his way up from the shop to being a very successful sales manager, which suited his outgoing personality and preference for being out of the office and on the road.  He greatly enjoyed the relationships he made with colleagues and customers. While at Haydon, he had the opportunity to mentor many of his colleagues, who remember to this day the strong influence he had on their lives. He also proudly served in the Marine Corps, and he displayed his pride through hats, clothes, and emblems on his car.

Steve's most cherished times were those spent sharing a meal and conversation with family and loved ones. He spent much quality time with his daughter, Laura Jeane (LJ) and even her friends, taking them to Flyers games and joining them at Penn State for football games. Steve was a devoted Poppy to the light of his life, his granddaughter, Amanda. Although Amanda has become a teenager, she was always still his “little little one”. He was very active in Amanda's life, and he reveled in listening to her stories and relished sharing her successes. He never turned down the opportunity to spend time with Amanda, who has countless memories of her Poppy playing with her outside, playing hide and go seek, and making sliced cheese, cucumber, tomato and ranch dippy for her after camp. He was a rock and cornerstone of his family. A class act and forever the gentleman, Steve was beloved by all who knew him, and his presence will be sorely missed.

Steve is survived by his loving children, Laura Jeane Smith and Stephen Pitts, Jr., his son-in-law Robert Smith whom he considered a son, his beloved granddaughter Amanda Adelle Smith, and his lady friend, Susan DeNardo with whom he found a second life after his wife’s passing.  

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 20, 2024 at Sunset Memorial Park’s Chapel of Peace, 333 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA.  Family will receive visitors at 10:00am with a service and interment immediately following.  Most important to Steve was that his friends attend his Celebration of Life Luncheon and Party from 12:00-3:30 at Maggio’s, 400 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, The Marine Corps Association, American Heart Association, or Philabundance.