Steven LePitre's Zest for Life Outlives Sudden Death

Steven LePitre knew being a bartender wasn’t going cut it after proposing to his future wife, Kathleen Kostovich. It didn't take long for him to make a career switch.

He joined the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 in 1989, just one year after he married his dear Kathleen. But at age 60, LePitre died suddenly last month while at his residence that he called home for the the past 20 years.

“He was ill, but we thought he would recover,” said his wife, noting that he passed away June 10.

LePitre spent 23 years as an operating engineer. He worked the last dozen at 2939 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago. His wife has worked for 14 years at Shay Health Care Services in Oak Forest.

"He had been planning on retiring in two years, after putting in 25 with the union," his wife said. “We met in a bar that was owned by some mutual friends. I knew he was the one the day we met.”

LePitre dropped out of Northern Illinois University a semester short of graduating.

“He ran out of money,” his wife said, adding that he eventually earned an associate’s degree from Daley College.

He liked golfing, swimming and camping. Together, the couple enjoyed traveling.

“We went to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to celebrate Steve’s 60^th birthday with another couple, and that’s when he got sick,” his wife said. “He went to see a doctor when we got back and found out he had cancer.”

More than any of his hobbies, LePitre loved life, Kathleen said.

"We had no children, so he was my kid,” she joked.

Other survivors include brother, Robert Le Pitre, of Bridgeview; nieces and nephews.

Services were held in June at Brady-Gill Funeral Home to St. George Church. Interment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. The family requests donations in LePitre’s memory to St. Rita High School, Class of 1970.

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