PORTLAND – Stephen Michael Nyulaszi, of Lewiston, passed away peacefully with his soul mate and best friend, Denise, his wife, by his side after a brief illness on Monday, Nov. 1, at Maine Medical Center.

His life’s journey began on March 21, 1926, when he was born in Lisbon Falls to Stephen J. Nyulaszi and Katherine Strassburger Nyulaszi. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1944, where he won letters in both football and baseball. Attending Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass., on a scholarship, he received a B.A. degree in 1949. At Holy Cross, his interest in sports continued as he played both football and baseball.

After college graduation, he worked for Public Finance, a division of American Investment of Illinois, from 1950 to 1965. In 1966, he joined the Department of Commerce EDA in Portland as a business development specialist and was further promoted to chief business loan and development specialist covering New England and New York. In 1969, the Portland branch was moved to Philadelphia, Pa. Steve moved to Philadelphia where he became the chief of business development and technical assistance to firms that were adversely affected by foreign imports. His territory grew to a 13-state area covering Maine to West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

In 1977, he returned to Maine as the director of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration located in Portland and then moved to Augusta. During this period, he assiduously assisted many Maine companies to successfully compete in the overseas market.

Upon his retirement from government service in 1994, Sen. George J. Mitchell, addressing the president of the U.S. Senate, had the following entered into the Congressional Record: “Mr. President, this year, the state of Maine is losing a tremendous public servant. Stephen M. Nyulaszi will be retiring as director of the Department of Commerce’s branch office in Maine. Steve has served the people of Maine in this position for 15 years. His assistance to Maine businesses has been invaluable. He has helped countless Maine companies to grow and become competitive in both domestic and international markets. His skill and dedication have made significant differences in the success of many businesses’ efforts, and I know that he will be deeply missed. Steve Nyulaszi personifies the ideal public servant. He has worked above and beyond the call of duty to assist Mainers.”

Steve served on numerous state appointed and local organizations and was on the board of directors for Canal and Key banks. He was also a lifelong member of the Lewiston Lodge of Elks 371. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, covering many road trips from the Atlantic provinces and Quebec through British Columbia and the continental United States. His annual all-time destination of choice to retreat with Dee was in their favorite condo suite in St. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec, overlooking the majestic Saint Lawrence River.

His passion for history and politics fueled his morning ritual in meeting with friends to debate issues and sports over tea at Little Joe’s. His curiosity about politics, history and world news kept him reading as many as three daily newspapers in the morning, and in the evening watching local and world news television to have the latest information, and if that was not enough, he constantly had a book in hand on the same subject. His newspaper was sacred; house rules dictated no coupon clipping or separating sections before he had read the news, and of course no crossword puzzle went unsolved.

A game of cards was never turned down with friends Clay and Eleanor Coupe with his cribbage partner Dee by his side. His grandchildren and children kept him young, happy and engaged, and he enjoyed being part of their lives. They went to him for his eclectic knowledge, practical wisdom and experience. He was like a lifeline “phone a friend” in the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” for he was so well-read on so many subjects that he could answer the tough questions.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Denise; his sister, Margaret Nyulaszi Biros and her husband, Cyril M. Biros Sr., of Willingboro, N.J.; his special nephews, Cyril M. Biros Jr. of Ocean City, N.J., Mark J. Biros of Bethesda, Md., and Gregory Biros of Yardley, Pa.; niece, Janice Schumann of Wildwood Crest, N.J.; daughter, Lisa Hall, and grandchildren, Stephanie, Matthew and Nickolas of Lewiston; daughter, Karla, and her husband, Roger Blouin, and grandchildren, Justin and Brady, of Lewiston; stepdaughter, Michelle Orne, and step-grandchild, Michael Orne, of Portland; stepdaughter, Chris and her husband, Dean Denis, of Milton, Vt.; and brother-in-law, Donald Daigle, and wife, Rachel, of Lyman; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.