Born in Budapest, Hungary, Steven fled to the United States following the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and subsequent Soviet invasion. He was accepted to Princeton on full scholarship, where he majored in architecture and joined Elm Club.
After Princeton Steven earned a graduate degree in architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. He initially specialized in skyscrapers, working on buildings including the Transamerica Pyramid and Bank of America building in San Francisco. Later, he opened a successful practice in residential architecture. His vision and ingenuity won him a devoted clientele and were manifest in the house he designed and built for his family in South Pasadena, Calif.
Steven’s interests included a love of history and politics. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. In 2002, he and his wife set aside their life in California and began anew in Medford, Mass., to be near their daughters and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Katalin; daughters Rita Csejtey and Andrea Csejtey Olland ’94; sons-in-law Paul Gazzerro ’92 and Stéphane Olland; five grandchildren; sister Judit; and extended family.