Uncle Steve Remembered

He loved to dance, he loved to bowl, he loved his family and he loved Atlas. “Uncle Steve” Pope, 95, passed away April 6, 2007, following a long illness, and a life well lived.

Steve Pope was and will ever remain a significant part of the history of Atlas. As the brother-in-law of Atlas founder Steve Schaffan, Jr., he was married to Schaffan’s sister, Louise. After the Depression, Louise worked at a model airplane firm. She would bring the kits home to her brother, the beginnings of his lifelong interest in modeling that would become his vocation. When Louise married Steve Pope, he immediately became one of Atlas’ first employees, soldering items, then packaging them, sometimes in the family’s home basement. Later, he worked in the first Atlas factory at 413 Florence Avenue, where Atlas began as a tool and die company, right down the street from our current headquarters.

“Uncle Steve worked two jobs his entire life to support his family and put his children, Elaine and Kenneth, through college,” said Atlas CEO Thomas W. Haedrich. “His night job, six days a week, was working at Atlas with his brother-in-law. Aunt Louise is a member of the Atlas Board of Directors.”

In 1942, Steve, Louise and daughter Elaine made one of their frequent visits to the Seaside Heights, New Jersey boardwalk.

Born in Newark, Mr. Pope grew up in Jersey City. He lived and raised his family in Irvington for 30 years before moving to Toms River at the Jersey Shore in the 1970’s. A graduate of Jersey City High School, he attended St. Peter’s College. He retired from the sales department of the C.F. Mueller Macaroni Company in 1976 after 38 years service. Active in local government, Mr. Pope was Chairman of the Dover Township Homeowners’ Advisory Council for 10 years. He was a life member of the Paternal Order of Elks and a former member of the Irvington B.P.O.E.

“Uncle Steve always had a joke to tell, a poem to recite or a song to sing,” said Atlas President Diane (Schaffan) Haedrich. “He was one of Atlas’ biggest fans and always showed great support and gave praise to Tom for his success with Atlas.”

“Uncle Steve” Pope is survived by Louise Schaffan Pope, his wife of 66 years, his son, Kenneth and daughter Elaine, both of Texas, and three grandchildren – Trina, Kenneth and Keith.