Steven Toth Jr.
1921-2012

Steven Toth, Jr., age 90 of Niantic, Ct and formerly a long time Springfield resident died

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 with his wife and son at his side after battling Alzheimer's

disease and recent surgery. He was born October 6, 1921 to the late Stephen and Eszter

Szabo Toth in New York City. At an early age the family moved to Morrisville,

Pennsylvania where he graduated from high school in 1938 and lived at home until

entering the Army Air Corps at the beginning of World War II. He re-enlisted shortly

after the end of the war and served in the U.S Air Force. After graduating from multiple

flight training schools he served as a flight engineer on air transports such as the C97. He

was most proud of his service during the Berlin Air Lift in which he flew a circuitous

route to Berlin originating from Westover Air Base through the Azores and Greenland.

He often shared stories of his war and airlift experiences. He left the Air Force in 1953

having attained the rank of staff sergeant. While stationed at Westover, he met his wife,

the former Helen M. Landers of Springfield while roller skating at the former Rialto

skating rink. They were married on July 23rd 1949 at All Souls rectory in Springfield and

last year celebrated their 62nd anniversary. He retired from the U.S.Postal Service in

1981 after working on the Railway Post Office (RPO) between Springfield and Grand

Central Station and later, the main post office in Springfield. Steve had a lifelong love of

fishing which resulted in his buying waterfront land and building with Helen a summer

home in Niantic, Ct. to which they retired. Steve and Helen were a real team always

together. One was rarely seen without the other. He will be sadly missed by his wife,

Helen, and their only child, a son Steven E. Toth of Longmeadow, who also spent a great

deal of time with his parents. He also left a sister Esther Nagren and her husband John of

Barnegat, New Jersey, a brother Charles, of Morrisville, PA, and brother-in-law Edward

J. Landers and his wife Judy of Poquonock, CT. He was predeceased by brothers John,

James and Frank and by a sister, Ellen Ungrady. He leaves several nieces and nephews

including Jacqueline Footman-Garden of Wallingford, CT and special cousin Michael J.

Thompson of Greenbelt, MD both formerly of Springfield. The family extends special

thanks to the very caring staff at Bride Brook Rehabilitation Center in Niantic. Funeral

services will be Monday at 10 am at West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home, 109

Main St., West Springfield, MA followed by burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Calling hours are Sunday, March 4, 2012 from 2-5 p.m.