Stefan A. “Steve” Kantardjieff of Hollywood, CA, passed away on Sunday, September 26th, 2021 after a prolonged period of declining health. 

 

Steve was born on April 18, 1929 in Sofia, Bulgaria, the youngest of three children and only son of Assen and Katerina Kantardjieff. Steve and members of his family fled to Austria in 1944, where he managed to continue his education. After the war, Steve worked as a translator for Radio Free Europe. He lost his mother to breast cancer in 1947, and he emigrated to the United States with his father in 1949.

 

Steve met his beloved wife, Stefie, in the Bulgarian community of Los Angeles. Their courtship began with a box of cookies that Stefie sent to Steve while he was based at Fort Ord and assigned to the army language school at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. Steve and Stefie were married on July 18, 1953. They welcomed their first child, daughter Katherine, in 1957, and their son Ted, in 1961.

 

Steve worked for the Bank of America for 37 years, where he rose through the ranks from teller to Group Vice President and Regional Credit Administrator for Southern California. In the 1960s, Steve was active in public speaking with Emanons and Kiwanis. In 1971, he completed graduate education in banking and finance at the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Steve served as Manager of the Beverly Hills Main Branch of BofA, where he was a pillar in Beverly Hills. Steve and Stefie were active with the Chamber of Commerce. In 1988, Steve joined the Board of Directors of the Lon V. Smith Foundation, and he served as President from 1991 until 2021.

 

Steve was a prominent member of St. Kliment of Ohrid Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Hollywood, where he served as choir director for nearly 40 years, as well a member and officer of the Parish Council. He was among the many parents who helped guide the church youth group, the Young Bulgarian Society (YBS), chaperoning field trips to the beach, mountains, and sporting events, as well as the cherished cherry-picking expeditions to Beaumont. He also conducted “Bulgarian School” at various times, teaching the next generation the language of their heritage. Steve was an avid photographer, and he chronicled the life of many friends, family, the YBS, and the church.

 

Steve and Stefie loved to entertain. Summertime dinners in the backyard included Steve’s signature kebapche on the grill. At the holidays, friends would come to celebrate their shared name day, the Feast of St. Steven. Steve would often play the accordion, which included a repertoire of popular songs, as well as Bulgarian hora.

 

Steve spoke about his work as his dedication to a life of service. Those who knew Steve describe him as a kind man with a generous heart, a sense of humor, a love of family, and a love of country. Steve is predeceased by the love of his life, Stefie, his parents, and his sisters, Kalina and Anastasia. He is survived by his children, Katherine and Ted, as well as nieces and nephews in the United States and abroad.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to St. Kliment of Ohrid Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Hollywood, CA.