26.03.2021

Stephen Edward Pirigyi 1937-2021

We have received the sad news that Stephen ‘Steve’ Pirigyi, 83, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on February 26th, at the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina due to complications from cancer surgery.

Pirigyi spent his entire working life selling cranes, heavy equipment, and related services, a job he loved. He spent 38 years as salesman, and later regional manager at Manitowoc Cranes before ‘retiring’ in 2003. The retirement did not last long however, in 2005 he joined H&E Equipment, helping the company find Manitowoc cranes for its re-manufacturing and resale programme. In 2009, he began working with Wheco as a structural repair rep and finally Cleveland Crane & Shovel Sales right up until his death.

Steve Pirigyi had a well earned reputation for integrity and honesty and is said to have never sold anything that wasn’t right for his customer. He was even known to have pointed customers towards competitors when he believed it was the right thing to do. To learn more you can read an interview he did with Crane Hot Line magazine in January last year
Please register to see all images

Steve Pirigyi

He leaves behind his beloved wife Joan, sons Stephen and Christopher, three grandchildren and two dogs, not to mention dozens, hundreds of friends and past colleagues.

On the day he passed away his son Chris wrote: “My father passed away suddenly this morning after having surgery for cancer. He was doing fine and was supposed to come home on Monday. The doctors actually said he was cured but I guess God needed to take him. He loved all you guys in the industry and loved cranes with a passion. He was Manitowoc through and through and loved doing his craft and never wanted to retire. He was the most amazing father and grandfather, and we are just devastated. I am who I am because of him. He was my mentor in life and he is the single reason why I was so successful in my career. He made me be the best human being I could be. I am blessed to have had such a wonderful life with him. No regrets!"

"He enjoyed so much posting on LinkedIn and getting his updates and stories, and man did he have a lotta stories! And you guys are always so kind to acknowledge his posts and I just wanted to say that thank you for being there with him. I love you dad and I don’t know what we’re gonna do without you, but we’ll get through it. Hug your loved ones and appreciate every day you have with them.”

R.I.P