Member Spotlight - Steve Hegyesi

Stephen (“Steve”) was born in Landau on der Isar, Germany.  His father was Hungarian and his mother German.  The family immigrated through Ellis Island when Steve was five.  They were sponsored by a Houston church, until his Dad could get recertified in the USA as a veterinarian.  Steve grew up in the Houston/Galveston area.

He is turning 76 this year and has been married to his wife, Marisa, for 33 years.  He knew her since she was 8, because of hanging out with her older brother and sister.  Steve has four daughters from an earlier marriage, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.   

Steve’s first job was a paper route, then a ride operator at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston.  At 16, he worked at a grocery store, working himself up to an assistant manager.  At 18, he got his US Customs Cardamom license for transporting bonded goods. 

Steve was a Principal of a leading engineering firm, Walter P. Moore & Associates (WPM), retiring after 40 years.  He worked on projects such as Reliant Stadium, Minute Maid Park, the Memphis Pyramid, the Astrodome Additions and Renovations, the Compaq Center and its conversion to Lakewood (Church) International Center, and the Toyota Center.

His retirement has allowed him to pursue woodworking as one of his creative stimulus.  Steve has a vast knowledge and love of design, and an amazing ability to visualize and understand geometrically complex problems.  The Nautilus shells he creates are evidence of that geometric wizardry.  Steve also still consults with an Atlanta based young Architect on commercial/residential additions/renovations.

Steve was an offshore sailor for more than forty years.  He and his wife have also traveled extensively both by land and sea.  The couple also completed half of “The Great Loop” (Chicago to Florida).

His favorite place in the World is a tossup between Vienna and Paris, because of the history, culture, food and drink.  Steve also is an excellent cook, who enjoys cooking multiple ethnic cuisines.  Being from a large family, they sometimes compete at times to see who can cook the same dish best (voting by the local fire department one year).  His favorite food however is authentic German Rouladen.

Steve presently owns a 2023 Mercedes AMG C-43 Cabriolet.  He finally converted to Mercedes after owning four Corvettes, the last one being a 2019 Grand Sport Convertible.  After a 3500+ mile National Park road trip in the Vette, he decided it was time for more comfort.  If he could own any Mercedes, it would be a new GT-63 AMG.  He has a need for speed.

His favorite author is Clive Cussler.  His favorite TV shows are crime and mystery, or Gone in 60 Seconds (because of Eleanor).  As far as music, Steve likes Stevie Nicks and Stjepan Hauser (Croatian Cellist).

Steve is an animal lover, primarily dogs.  He has had dogs, cats, sheep, chickens, rabbits (children in FFA), and personally showed and competed Arabians... (Gee!  Do you think he was influenced by having a Vet as a father?). 

His bucket list includes finishing the Great Loop, a road trip to Alaska, and sailing single handed across the Atlantic.  Travel is still in his future plans as you can see. 

Since becoming a member of the Mercedes family, Steve attendees most Cars and Coffee events at Halcyon, the mountain drives and has participated and won 1^st Place Street Class- Sedan Late category in the Peachtree Section Concurs d’ Elegance, September 2023.

When asked, “What makes you laugh?” his response was - “Life!  And, how ridiculous some things are these days.”