Charles Robert Stephan – Captain, United States Navy

by

From a contemporary press report:

Charles Robert Stephan, a retired Navy Captain who won a Navy Cross and founded the nation’s first undergraduate ocean engineering program at Florida Atlantic University, died on August 30, 1998. He was 86.

Captain Stephan, who served on FAU’s faculty for 17 years, died at his home in Virginia  Beach, Virginia.

After retiring from a 30-year career in the Navy, Captain Stephan joined FAU as professor and helped  found the department of ocean engineering in 1964.

”The University has lost a great leader and friend,” FAU President Anthony Catanese said in a news release on Friday. ”Dr. Charles Stephan helped build one of FAU’s first programs and set a standard for innovation and excellence for the entire academic community.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Captain Stephan graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1934 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He served in World War II in the South Pacific and was awarded the Navy Cross three times.

Captain Stephan was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Boca Raton. He was also a past commander of the National Legion of Valor, an organization of recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross or the Army Distinguished Service Cross.

Captain Stephan will be buried on September 16, 1998 with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, following a memorial service at Fort Myer Army base.

Captain. Stephan is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several other relatives.

Memorial donations may be made to Legion of Valor, 92 Oakleaf Lane, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516.

STEPHAN, CHARLES ROBERT, CAPT, USN (Ret.)

Age 86 of Virginia Beach, VA, on Sunday, August 30, 1998, at a local hospital, husband of the late Eleanor Grace Stephan. He retired as Captain after a 30 year career with the US Navy, where he received the Navy Cross and two bronze stars; and later retired from Florida Atlantic University after 15 years as a Professor of Ocean Engineering. He was a  member of the First Presbyterian Church; past Commander – National  Legion of Valor; Pearl Harbor Survivors Association; member of the  Kiwanis Club in Virginia Beach and Boca Raton, FL; and an alumni of  the US Naval Academy Class of 1934.

He is survived by two daughters, Yvonne S. Brown of Virginia Beach and Joan S. Cathcart of Inman, SC; two sons, CAPT Charles R. Stephan, USN (Ret.) of South Carolina and Robert W. Stephan of North Carolina; and one sister, Marie McGuigan of Florida. Funeral services will  be held Wednesday, September 16, 1998 at Fort Myer Chapel, Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Legion of Valor, 92 Oakleaf Ln., Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
Charles R. Stephan, CAPT, USN
Section 8 Grave 10202

From a contemporary press report:

Charles Robert Stephan, a retired Navy Captain who won a Congressional Medal of Honor and founded the nation’s first urndergraduate ocean engineering program at Florida Atlantic University, has died. He was 86.

Captain Stephan, who served on FAU’s faculty for 17 years, died at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

After retiring from a 30-year career in the Navy, Captain Stephan joined FAU as professor and helped found the department of ocean engineering in 1964.

”The University has lost a great leader and friend,” FAU President Anthony Catanese said in a news release on Friday. ”Dr. Charles Stephan helped build one of FAU’s first programs and set a standard for innovation and excellence for the entire academic community.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Captain Stephan graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1934 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He served in World War II in the South Pacific and was awarded the Navy Cross three times. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role in the defense of Pearl Harbor.

Captain Stephan was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Boca Raton. He was also a past commander of the National Legion of Valor, an organization of recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross or the
Army Distinguished Service Cross.

Captain Stephan will be buried on September 16 with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, following a memorial service at Fort Meyer Army base.

Captain Stephan is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several other relatives.

Memorial donations may be made to Legion of Valor, 92 Oakleaf Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

Captain Charles Robert Stephan USN (Ret), age 86, died on August 30, 1998 at a Virginia Beach hospital. Born in Brooklyn, New York,  he was a Captain with the United States Navy for 30 years. He was also employed by Florida Atlantic University for 15 years as professor of Ocean Engineering.

His memberships included First Presbyterian Church, National Legion of Valor (Past Commander), Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and Kiwanis Club in Virginia Beach and Boca Raton, Florida .

He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1934. He received the Navy Cross and two Bronze Star medals. He was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor Grace Stephan.

Survivors include daughters, Yvonne S. Brown of Virginia Beach and Joan S. Cathcart of Inman, S.C.; sons, Capt. Charles R. Stephan, USN (Ret) of S.C., and Robert W. Stephan of N.C.; sister, Marie McGuigan of Florida.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 1998 at 1 P.M. at the Fort Myer Chapel, Arlington National Cemetery. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Legion of Valor, 92 Oakleaf Ln., Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

Read our general and most popular articles

Leave a Comment