Stephen Howard Kaye

Stephen Howard Kaye

(December 22, 1937 – September 2, 2024)

Stephen H. “Steve” Kaye, 86, of Westport, Connecticut passed away on September 2, 2024. Born in Boston, Steve lived his early life in Dorchester, MA where he attended Boston Latin School and then moved to Newton, MA where he graduated from Newton High School.

Steve was a fixture of the Westport community for over 50 years and was known as funny, smart, kind, caring, quirky, and unique. Steve lived his life with energy and positivity. A passionate sailor, his boat “Forever Young” expressed in name his outlook and vigor. Steve was an avid skier of groomed blue runs, a black belt in martial arts, always made new friends at the gym, and a ping pong player with an overpowering serve.

After working for Procter and Gamble, Gillette, and multiple advertising, packaging and consulting firms, he founded Steve Kaye New Products, Inc. in 1977. He built it into one of the most successful new product companies in the country, working with Fortune 500 firms as well as smaller entrepreneurial companies. He proudly played a role in the creation of Huggies diapers, the Got Milk campaign, chocolate-covered Oreos and many more memorable products of the 1980s and 1990s.

For the past eleven years, Steve was an adjunct professor of marketing and sales at Sacred Heart University and Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT, where he thoroughly enjoyed engaging with his students and sharing his vast knowledge. He impacted many young lives that might have otherwise never benefited from a teacher of his caliber.

Steve proudly attended Harvard Business School and MIT; and was a 1st Lieutenant US Army Quartermaster Corps.

The son of Milton and Mina Kaye, Steve valued family above all else. He is survived by his beloved life partner of over 30 years Linda Arenson of Westport, CT; son Bruce Kaye and son-in-law Misael Rodriguez of Milford, CT; daughter Joan Garbow and son-in-law Roger Garbow of Ridgefield, CT; son Peter Kaye and daughter-in-law Andrea Mazur of Chevy Chase, MD; grandchildren Ben and Julia Garbow and Sally and Margot Kaye; sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Kenny Wexler of Brookline, MA; and cousins Stanley and Enid Shulman also of Brookline.

Donations in Steve’s honor can be made to Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties, 46 Peaceable Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877; www.ourshirshalom.org