Stephen Hluchy was born on July 17, 1928 at the home of his great-uncle in Jamesburg, New Jersey. Pastor Hluchy's parents, John and Anna (Viskup) Hluchy emigrated from Czechoslovakia less than a year before his birth and were helping their uncle (whose wife was ill) with his four yourng children. Pastor Hluchy has an older sister and brother and a younger sister. His family moved frequently to find employment because of the depression in the late 1920's and early 1930's. During the first five years of his life they lived in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York.Pastor Hluchy attended elementary school PS #2 in the Bronx, and junior and senior high school in Allentown, New Jersey, graduating in 1947. He enrolled at Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y., graduating in 1954. That same year he and Olga (Nahlik) were married in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church located on 20th Street in Manhattan. Pastor Hluchy then attended Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, graduating in 1959. His wife, Olga, worked at the National Council of Churches in downtown Chicago during their time at seminary.
After graduation from seminary Pastor Hluchy received and accepted a call to a three-church parish, St. Matthew in Mt. Carmel, St. John in St. Clair and Holy Emmanuel in Mahanoy City (all in PA.) The three churches were in an 18 mile triangle.
In 1967 Pastor Hluchy received and accepted a call to Holy Trinity, Skaneateles. During his pastorate in Skaneateles, Pastor Hluchy was involved in many community activities. He served as chaplain of the Skaneateles Fire Department, held many offices with the Clergy Association of Skaneateles and was a member of the Narcotics Council. He was also part of the committee which formed the Caring Coalition, now called Hospice of Central New York.
After a year of retirement he accepted a request from St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Syracuse to be their visitation pastor. He served in that capacity for four years.
Pastor and Olga are blessed with three daughters, Carol (William) Carson, Michele Hluchy (Larry Deis) and Stefanie Hluchy (Francisco Delgado). They have two grandsons, William Jr. and Alexander Carson.
