Stephen Edward Pender's Obituary
1956 – 2026
With deep sorrow and much love, we mourn the passing of Stephen Pender of Tucson, AZ, on June 29, 2026, following a brief illness.
As the oldest grandchild in a big New Jersey family, young Steve loved to listen to the adults talk and tell stories, a joy that foretold his life’s work as a video biographer.
A graduate of Seton Hall University, Steve worked at the student-run college radio station, WSOU-FM, where he made wonderful memories and long-lasting friends. His job at a PR firm in New York City built his scriptwriting, editing, and video production skills; he kept up with fast-changing technology while creating marketing videos for corporate and nonprofit clients. During this time, he met and married his best friend, Halina.
In the late 1990s, Steve interviewed his paternal grandmother and created a documentary about her for his family. Meanwhile, repeated visits to the Southwest convinced Steve and Halina to move to Arizona and reinvent their lives. Combining his professional skills and passion for storytelling, Steve started his own business, Family Legacy Video, in 2003 to create personal video biographies for countless individuals and families that will be cherished for generations to come.
For 25 years, Steve served his community as a proud member of the Catalina Rotary Club of Tucson, devoting his time to many local service projects. At his recent induction as president of the Catalina Rotary Club, Steve invited his friends to roast him, a joyous event that occurred shortly before his sudden passing. He also volunteered with the trade association for personal biographers, sharing his expertise as a pioneer in the industry.
Many people across the country will miss Steve’s kind, generous, gentle spirit, but his memory will live on in all those he loved.
Steve is preceded in death by his father, Richard A. Pender. He is survived by his loving wife, Halina; his mother, Joan; his four brothers, Michael (wife Sara), Christopher (wife Colleen), Robert (wife Kathleen), and Richard (wife Shelly); sister-in-law, Irene Obremski, and brother-in-law, Joseph Obremski; fifteen fabulous nieces and nephews and their spouses and children; many beloved cousins and their families; and countless, dear friends.
Memorial donations may be made to the Catalina Rotary Club of Tucson at https://CatalinaRotary.org, or to Catalina Rotary Foundation, Catalina Rotary Treasurer, PO Box 14435, Tucson AZ 85732.
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