Stephen A. Toth Obituary (1941 - 2021)

Steve Toth - father, grandfather, Ohio State football fan, and active community volunteer - passed away quietly in a residential care home on August 17 after a sudden health decline. He was 80 years old and had been living at The Inn at the Fountains in Tucson with his cat, Jay. His sense of humor and relentless optimism will be missed. With his wife Barbara (deceased), Steve was an active member of the Sun City Vistoso community for more than 15 years. He enjoyed singing with the Sun City Singers, working out at the fitness center, golfing, and playing Mexican Train every Wednesday with his friends. A diehard Ohio State Buckeye football fan, Steve was born in Youngstown, Ohio where he graduated from Boardman High School and Youngstown State University with a degree in economics. His early career was in advertising and his first job was as an account manager for Sheet and Tube in Pittsburgh. After owning and managing several Mr. Steak restaurants in Youngstown and Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steve returned to advertising by joining the JW Messner agency in Grand Rapids, Michigan and eventually his own firm, Toth Marketing & Advertising. In his later career, Steve sold radio advertising time for several classical music radio stations in Grand Rapids and Tucson, Arizona, and eventually became a long-term care insurance sales representative for Genworth Financial. Steve was married to his wife Barbara for nearly 30 years before she passed away in 2019. The two had many things in common including a love of singing, Frank Sinatra, football, good scotch whiskey, entertaining friends in their home, the Tucson Pops Orchestra, their children and grandchildren, and their cats. Steve is survived by two children and grandchildren from his first marriage to Arlene Hicks (Pavalko Toth): daughter Cheryl Toth (Rich Luhr, husband) of Tucson, and son Marc Toth (Cindy Toth, wife) of Tucson as well as grandchildren Blake Toth of Denver and Mackenzie Toth of Scottsdale. He is also survived by stepson Cayd Ayres (Shelley Ayres, wife) of Knoxville and grandchildren Auden and Rylan; stepdaughter Paula Wagenaar and grandson Aaron Wagenaar and great grandson Miles of Grand Rapids; Kathy Brubacher (Wagenaar) and husband Dave Brubacher, grandchildren Cheyanne and Jake and great grandchild Maliki of Lanark, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his brother John Toth of Tucson. A celebration of life open house for Steve will be held at 11:00am on October 23, 2021 at Vistoso Funeral Home, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley, Arizona. In lieu of flowers or cards, the family has requested donations to the Tucson Pops Orchestra, which Steve and Barb loved and enjoyed for nearly 20 years. Donations can be made online at: https://tucsonpops.org.