Friends and colleagues remember Stephen J. Meszkat, a 28-year-old New Canaan resident who attended public schools in town and graduated from , as a fun, warm person who will be deeply missed.
Meszkat’s friend and former manager at Maxim Group in New York City, Dan Balestra, said he was shocked to hear the news of Meszkat's death following a car on Ponus Ridge Friday.
“Steve was a great guy," Balestra said. "He was always prompt. He always went above and beyond in anything you asked of him, anything at all. Everyone here loved him.”
Meszkat's family will be receiving friends from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the in New Canaan, according to an obituary posted on the funeral home's website. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at the .
Born June 15, 1982, in Bedford, NY, Meszkat attended , and , where he was a member of the ski, golf, football and lacrosse teams, according to the obituary.
He graduated from Salisbury School in Lakeville, CT, where he was on the ski, crew and football teams, according to the obituary. An avid car enthusiast, Meszkat attended St. Lawrence University, graduated from Fairfield University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in economics and marketing, and belonged to the .
He worked an agent and financial consultant at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance in New York City, the obituary said. He is survived by his parents, Susie and Steve Sr., and his sister, Dede Meszkat. He also is survived by the Fitzgibbons, Meszkat, Woodall, McDermid and McKeough families.
According to Balestra, Meszkat worked for Maxim Group in New York City as a broker’s trainee from July 2009 to November 2010. Balestra said he sent a company-wide email to about 400 people in the firm on Monday, informing them of Meszkat’s death.
“It’s been very difficult," Balestra said. "People are in shock, no one can believe it."
Some who knew Meszkat described him as fun-loving.
Balestra said Meszkat stopped by Maxim Group about three weeks ago to check in and say hello.
“He was a good friend. He was always joking around. He’s going to be very, very missed,” Balestra said.
One former college classmate, Patty Palmer, said she remembered Meszkat as warm and easy-going.
“I attended Fairfield University with Stephen, and can tell you that he always had a smile on his face, and was the kind of guy who would always say hello with a warm welcome,” Palmer said. “He seemed to really enjoy life.”
For online condolences and directions, visit the Hoyt Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a foundation that will be established in his honor, according to Meszkat's obituary.
