Dean Steigauf, 62 of Jersey City, NJ, Died with Dignity on July 15th, 2020 with his loving husband John Henry Ernestine at his side. Visitation day updated. Read on for details. The cause of death was melanoma. Dean was born in Buffalo, NY, to George (deceased) and Kathleen Steigauf and moved to New York City in 1980 after graduating from Rutgers College, Rutgers University.
Dean’s professional career in the real estate industry included time spent at Chase Manhattan Bank, the City of New York, and then almost 25 years at the Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon, culminating in the role of Managing Director, Head of Global Real Estate & Lease Administration. He was a Senior Director/Transactions Management at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) at the time of his death.
In his long career, he was honored to have participated in or led projects as varied as; assisting the NYPD in identifying sites for the Tactical Narcotics Team created in 1988 after the murder of PO Edward Byrne. He leased over 1MM square feet to replace office space BNY lost after 9/11. He then negotiated the lease for Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn, which allowed the Bank to diversify its NYC locations. In Europe and Asia, he was influential in the relocation and an upgrade of most of the Bank’s sites, including London, Brussels, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. His final project for the Bank was the sale of One Wall Street HQ and the relocation to Brookfield Place. Once at JLL, he assisted his client in a successful consolidation of offices in Chicago.
Dean felt his role as a manager was two-pronged: First delivering the best real estate transaction possible and secondly but just as essential to propel his team to continually focus on how they can grow themselves, both professionally and personally.
In addition to his husband, John Henry Ernestine, Dean is survived by his daughters, Theresa Ernestine (Sandro) and Debra Ernestine. His grandchildren: Desire Ernestine and Bellamii Browne and Genevieve, Skylar and Emily Badette and Marissa Palazzo, his mother Kathleen Steigauf, siblings: Maripat Downey (Tim), Nancy Calzone (Steven) George (Leonora) and five nieces and nephews, Maureen Downey, Christopher Calzone, Michael Calzone, Sara Calzone, and Savannah Steigauf. Dean is predeceased by his father George P. Steigauf and his first partner Joseph Palazzo.
Dean was an avid traveler, he and his husband John-Henry traveled abroad many times during their seventeen-year relationship.
He immensely enjoyed going to New York City to Broadway Shows and made sure almost every playbill he received was saved.
He found great satisfaction and fulfillment working with his team at JLL; he built long-lasting relationships and fostered a cohesive work environment whereby mutual respect and dignity were had by all and still is.
He loved animals and especially his dog Natasha who was the biggest Siberian Husky in the park.
He loved reading, and on any given day, you would find him reading the latest New York Times and anything published about real estate, which was his craft and passion.
He loved sitting in the park with his husband John-Henry, with a coffee in hand, surrounded by nature and soaking in the sun.
He enjoyed his time with his family and friends, traveling to Buffalo and Atlanta Georgia, where they would gather in some of the most fantastic parts and stay up till the wee hours of the morning sharing stores and usually, it would be the oldest among the group that would be the last to bed.
He loved seeing his grandchildren and had more patience with his five grandchildren than anyone could ever imagine; he also found joy knowing they would go home to their parents at the end of the evening!
He enjoyed the sunrise and the sunsets, in the early moments of the morning before anyone would stir, you could find him sitting by the window overlooking the park, just soaking in the sun and peace.
He loved his church, Grace Church Van Vorst, in Jersey City, NJ, and he served as a Greeter often, where he gladly handed out tags for people to be named, letting everyone know how happy he was to see them and to quote Dean “welcome to Grace!”
As family and friends gather to honor the life of Dean Steigauf, visitation and a funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2020 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Lawton-Turso Funeral Home in Hoboken (633 Washington St Hoboken, NJ 07030, on the corner of Washington and Seventh Streets, parking available on Seventh). A memorial service will be held at a later date and this page will be updated with the latest available information.
Additionally, for those who cannot travel or attend in person, a live-stream will be provided during the gathering mentioned above. Those who wish to join the digital gatherings in honor of Dean may use the following links and information below.
A virtual visitation will take place from 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2020 via Zoom. Click the link below on Saturday from 2:00 PM onward to join as a viewer of the gathering. The gathering will commence by 2:30 PM.
Click Here to Join the Virtual Visitation at 2:00 PM
Following a brief pause of the visitation, a Funeral Service for Dean will be offered at 5:00 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2020 via Zoom. Click the link below on Saturday from 5:00 PM onward to join as a viewer of the Funeral Service.
Click Here to Join the Funeral Service at 5:00 PM
The family requests that gifts in Dean’s name be offered to Grace Community Services at https://www.gracecommunityjc.org/ in lieu of flowers.
For the safety of in-person attendees and our staff, gatherings at Lawton-Turso Funeral Home will currently follow the latest guidelines as described here:
- All people attending must wear a mask while inside and around the outside of the funeral home.
- For safety, the number of attendees indoors will be limited to 50 attendees at a time at the discretion of the management.
- All attendees must practice social distancing while paying their respects.
Dean was very intelligent and kind. He and John-Henry are great couple, always offering supports and helps to the community. Dean is now safe and peaceful with God. Goodbye my dear friend, you will be deeply missed by all of us.
Dean was not just our brother in law he was our brother ,i told him at a speech on his 60th birthday if I had had the chance to choose a husband for my brother John Henry i would had chosen him , Dean my bro as i call him is an amazing soul who lite up the room as soon as he walked in he will forever be in our heart and soul bro is not gone he is giving to others who need him now waiting for his husband to meet him back there one day bro we love you with everything in out hearts and soul you are at peace and you deserve that you amazing brother in law we love you ,love luke Ember Dillon❤
Dean was such a remarkable human being. I think of so recently having conversations with him about his death which he faced with such bravery and wisdom. And yet on the same evening we all laughed many times. That was Dean – wise, generous and possessed of a fantastic sense of humor. It seems strange that we should be talking of him in the past because I think he was one of the most alive people I’ve ever met. That’s why he’s still here and will remain among us.
I knew Dean much too short of a time – just about 18 months – but what a joy his presence has been in my life. The last time Dean and I were at church together, he brought me a book as he loved other avid readers, as well as fans of Broadway shows. But Dean showed love to everyone and even in the face of his illness, he, at least publicly, was always smiling, in good spirits, and worried and caring about the other people around him. He will be so missed, but I also feel he will always be with us. Glad to know our earthly angel will still be our heavenly guardian angel.
Dean was a smiling face that I saw far too seldom. The happiness he and John-Henry shared was contagious. I will forever remember him as a kind and loving person, and our condolences go out to Brother John-Henry, their children, and the rest of their families for their loss. God bless us all. Alicia and Joe Rodriguez
Dean and his husband John-Henry, were one of the first new residents at Park Francis. With their dog Natasha, they added so much enthusiasm and life to the new building. We are lucky to have had them as founding residents. We will miss Dean greatly, Hamilton Park will not be the same without him.
Dean was a joy and a pleasure to know. All who knew him share John Henry’s sorrow, and each of us mourns the loss of this beloved friend. May Dean rest in well-deserved peace in the nearer presence of Our Lord, aware of the esteem in which he was held, and may he rise again in glory at the end of time!
Rest in peace Dean. I enjoyed the time we spent together when we were in high school. I am happy that you have such a loving family who will always remember that you are a blessed memory to them. Condolences to your husband, John-Henry and all your children and grandchildren.
What a beautiful service! Thank you Theresa, Reverend Mother, and all who made it possible. Brother John Henry and all who mourn Dean’s passing will continue in my prayers in the days and months ahead, with gratitude for his life here on earth, his life now in the resurrection, and the tremendous love that lives on his family and friends. May God’s love and all of our prayers surround, embrace and sustain you all the days to come. Soli Deo Gloria, with love and prayers, David-Luke, BSG