I want to share with you what I recently learned about an amazing man who led an ordinary life but still found a way to give back to the South Shore students in an extraordinary way. This man was Steve Kavajecz. Steve bequeathed approximately $52,000 worth of stocks to the South Shore .“The South Shore Education Foundation is very appreciative to Steve and his family for this generous donation. These funds will allow us to continue to support initiatives that benefit the students and staff in the South Shore School District” – Kevin Kavajecz, President of the South Shore Education Foundation.

Steve Kavajecz was 86-years old when he passed away on April 22, 2019. He graduated from South Shore High School in 1950. While in high school, he participated in basketball and track but he was most proud of the fact that he was a state relay qualifier. It was a story he frequently told his family and friends.

After high school, he immediately enlisted in the Army where he proudly served in the 11^th Airborne Division as a paratrooper. Upon retirement from the army, he went to Northcentral Technical College for a degree in accounting. After graduating from college, he took a job working for the state of Wisconsin. During this time, Steve also began to take an interest in the stock market, which proved to be a profitable hobby for him.

While talking with his brother, Rudy Kavajecz, it became obvious that Steve was a beloved brother, uncle, colleague and friend to many people. I learned many amazing things about Steve but the one thing that I will never forget came when I asked his brother, Rudy, what was most important to Steve. The answer, which came as a surprise to me, was Loretta Lynn – yes, the famous singer and songwriter! Rudy told me that Steve was her biggest fan and even president of her fan club. Steve even named is 23-foot boat the “Loretta Lynn”, which he proudly piloted over many waters.

So what made Steve an amazing man? A quote from Luvvie Ajayi states, “Being a ‘good man’ is something you do, not something you are.” As I listened to Rudy talk about Steve, it was obvious that Steve was a man of character and someone that Rudy admired. He said that Steve believed in the South Shore School District and all the benefits that come from being a part of a small community. Rudy’s nephew, Ken Kavajecz said this about Steve, “My uncle Steve was a stalwart supporter of education and we (the family) are happy his resources will be put to good use through the Foundation.”

As a student of South Shore High School, I wanted to say “Thank you” to Steve and his family but I realized there were multiple reasons:

• Thank you for your generous donation
• Thank you for supporting the next generation that comes from South Shore
• Thank you for believing in the small school that produces amazing people like yourself
• Thank you for donating to our school so that every child from our district can grow up with a 1-on-1 education that encourages them to believe that they can be anything.