Obituary for Stephen T. Hricko

Life Story for Stephen T. Hricko

"Stephen Hricko Sr. was a beloved father, son, brother, uncle and friend, but he was so much more than that. He was a scholar who valued the pursuit of knowledge and education above all else. He loved his family, and he loved imparting his knowledge onto others. When his children would ask him questions such as “why is the sky blue?” or “why is the grass green?” he would not be satisfied with simple responses tailored to children. Instead, he would explain the specifics of the process of photosynthesis and the role chlorophyll played, or the manner in which light scattered throughout the atmosphere. While others would assume young children would be incapable of understanding such topics, Stephen persisted, and his children delighted in his winding, passionate explanations. By the time his son was seven years old, he had taught him to memorize and recite Newton’s Laws of Thermodynamics. Stephen wanted his children to know the great truths of the universe, the magnificence of human discovery. He wanted them to value science and logic, to appreciate nature, the beauty of the world around them, and how every law of the universe contributed to every blue sky and every blade of green grass. He met each “but why?” with lit-up eyes and a new anecdote that made learning fun. He taught his children that education was power, that learning was an adventure, and they anticipated long car rides full of new, exciting discussions.
Stephen believed that the key to personal fulfillment and a bright future was education, and he dedicated his life to bringing such fulfillment to not only his own children, but to every child who stepped foot in the Kumon Learning Center of Montclair, the business that he proudly ran with all of his soul. To Stephen, Kumon was more than just a business; it was a calling he took very seriously, an opportunity to shape the hearts, minds, and futures of the next generation. Stephen was the kind of teacher who cared so deeply, sacrificed so much time and energy and love for his students, that the memory of his impact will likely never leave the individuals whose hearts he touched.
Stephen was a selfless man with so much love to give. He would do anything for his family, no questions asked. He worked every day to be a better man, better father, better teacher, and everyone who met him knew immediately that they were in the presence of someone truly special. He was incredibly witty, and frequently told “dad jokes” that would make those around him groan, but they all secretly loved him for it. Whenever he was late, he would often try out “shortcuts” that would end up being longer than the original routes, but nobody in the car minded, because even without a radio though the radio was broken, anyone could listen to him talk for hours without getting bored. He was an excellent storyteller, and enraptured every listener with his tales of adventures and misadventures of his youth, of hiking and climbing, of mischief, and of perseverance. He would often tell elaborate riddles, at the dinner table, in the car, or simply just because. He was intelligent, but intelligence wasn’t enough for him. He was constantly hungry for more and more knowledge, and believed that learning was meant to continue throughout adulthood. In addition to his native tongue English, he became fluent in French and Spanish, as well as Haitian Creole. He carried around a book of advanced calculus problems, and he would work on them in between moments so he would constantly be exercising his mind. Stephen was brilliant, he was kind, he was selfless, he was supportive, and he was hilarious beyond belief. He was wise and he was worldly, but he never lost his childish spirit. Men like Stephen Hricko Sr. come around once in a lifetime. He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten."