Stephen Peter Sicilian of East Hampton, a child psychologist who was the founder and executive director of East End Kids Therapy, died on April 12 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton after a long illness. He was 71.
Steve Sicilian, a summer resident at first before moving here full time 30 years ago, loved East Hampton, especially being on the water. He spent much time, his family wrote, sailing and walking his golden retrievers along the beach and in parks. “He enjoyed fishing until he learned that it was actually painful for the fish, at which point, he quit the sport,” the family said. “This is just a hint into his sweet, kind, caring, and compassionate nature.”
Born in the Bronx on July 1, 1950, to Leonard J. Sicilian and the former Veronica P. Reinwald, Mr. Sicilian grew up in North Babylon, graduating from North Babylon High School. After earning a doctorate in child psychology at the City College of New York, he began his career at Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens. He was dedicated to his work, and only retired because of his eight-year illness. “He loved connecting with people,” said the family.
Mr. Sicilian was also a fan of football and baseball, rooting for the Giants and Mets for many years.
In October 1988, he married Emily Corwith Guile, who survives. He also leaves a brother, James Sicilian of Los Alamos, N.M., and a sister, Donna Sicilian of Belleair, Fla. He considered his goddaughters, Michele Greco of New York City and Pam Koutrakos of New Jersey, and their children as well, to be his own.
Services for Mr. Sicilian will be announced at a later date.
