Stephen D Corriss

Stephen D. Corriss passed away on September 17, 2019 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, age 96.  He was born and raised in New York City, the eldest of three sons of Stephen M. and Louise Farr Corriss. He was predeceased by his brothers Charles and Raymond and their spouses, Doris and Mary.

Steve graduated from Morris HS in The Bronx in 1941. He watched Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio play at nearby Yankee Stadium.  He joined the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after Pearl Harbor, and as a member of the 2nd Marine Division was involved in relief operations on Guadalcanal and the ferocious Battles of Tarawa and Saipan.

He married his high school sweetheart Regina Cavanaugh the day he was discharged from the Marine Corps in November 1945.  They settled in the Yorkville section of Manhattan, and Steve began 25 years of employment with Chemical Bank in NYC.  He attended Pace College at night, studying accounting.  In 1951, Steve and Regina moved to Oceanside, L.I. with their two children, Stephen and Laura. Three more children, Kathleen, Michael and John later joined the household.

In 1970, Steve went to work for Security National Bank on L.I. and the following year the family moved to Garden City. In the mid-1970s, Steve accepted a job with Barnett Bank in Miami, and he and Regina moved to Coral Gables, Florida. They hosted a steady stream of friends and relatives in their home over the next ten years.  Regina passed away in 1988 after 43 years of marriage, shortly before Steve retired.

In 1990, Steve married Patricia Spurlock.  They lived in Miami but eventually moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. They returned to Florida five years ago, settling in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Pat passed away earlier this year.

Steve was one of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation. He grew up in Manhattan and The Bronx during the Depression and served in combat in WW2, but maintained a positive outlook. He had a great sense of humor. He loved music, especially from the Big Band era, and could read music and play several instruments.  He always had a garden wherever he lived, and was especially glad to share his tomatoes and corn.  Steve loved animals and the family usually had two dogs and at times additional pets.  Steve could fix just about anything and built extra rooms in two of his homes.  He liked Nathans hot dogs, White Castle hamburgers, old Westerns and old-time comedies. He was tough but gentle and good natured. Fearless. A great father.

Steve is survived by his children Stephen, Laura, Kathleen, Michael and John, as well as daughter-in-law Jill, sons-in-law Steve & Ed, grandchildren Matthew, Christopher, Michael and Natalie, great grandson Vincent and numerous nieces and nephews.  As his brother Ray's children suggested when Ray passed away last year, in lieu of flowers please say a prayer in remembrance and pay it forward with acts of charity and kindness to others, especially our veterans.