Lawrence florist Chris Stefan dies at 92

For more than two-thirds of his life – 66 years to be exact – Chris Stefan, owner of Stefan’s Florist at the intersection of Central Avenue and Rockaway Turnpike in Lawrence, was a well-known Five Towns florists. He died on Oct. 14. Stefan was 92.

Born on June 8, 1930, Stefan grew up in Manhattan on the east side after his parents emigrated from Sparta, Greece. He graduated from Seward Park High School and moved to Lawrence in 1956.

He opened his first store on Central Avenue near Gino’s Pizza in Lawrence. As his business grew, so did the size of the store. He had to change location multiple times. He moved in 1965 and 1987 to its current location at 301 Central Ave., never leaving Lawrence.

“He’s moved multiple times,” said Danae Stefan, Stefan’s daughter. “He’s always been right there.”

Stefan was accepted with open arms when he opened his business in Lawrence, by the majority Jewish community. He grew up Greek Orthodox but took the time to become acquainted with the people in the Five Towns. Most importantly, learn their traditions.

“He took his time to learn both the Reform and Orthodox communities traditions,” said his son Steven. “I grew up with the United Nations of people. From all of his employees, they represented every single ethnicity. People were people.”

Friends and current and former employees of Stefan are remembering the longtime florist through Facebook, emails and text messages to the family. Though she was aware of her father’s relationships with his customers, Dane’s amazed by the volume of remembrance messages.

“I have hundreds of emails and text messages we are trying to keep up with,” she said. “You’re talking about somebody that knew so many people. He loved people, and they loved him.”
When asked if their father had any hobbies the siblings answered simultaneously, his work. “It was his life, Danae said. “It was all of his contacts.”

The family remembers Stefan as a family man. Not only to his own relatives but also to people he knew as well. “His family wasn’t just us,” Steven said. “His family was all of his customers.”

Services will be held at Perry Funeral Home in Lynbrook on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. He will be buried at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hempstead on Oct. 20.

Stefan was pre-decreased by his wife Vickie of 60 years, and three sisters, Georgia, Helen, and Mary. He is survived by his children, Danae, Jimmy and Steven, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“Chris was a very good, kind man with a heart of gold who supported charitable institutions of every religious denomination, including many in the Orthodox Jewish community,” Lawrence resident Ben Brafman wrote in an email. “We will miss him and we extend our sincere condolences to his entire family.”