On January 3, 2025, Juan Carlos Stecco passed away; beloved husband of 63 years to Elisa Stecco (nee Siliato); devoted father of Carlos Stecco (Barbara) and Jorge Stecco (Melissa); loving grandfather of Elizabeth Cook (Mitch) and Amanda, Alex, Christian and Evan Stecco; step-grandfather of Brooke Atwood; brother of Hector “Cacho” Stecco; also survived by three great-grandchildren and over forty nieces and nephews; he is predeceased by his parents, the late Ruperto Stecco and Petronila Chiesa, and seven brothers and four sisters.Visiting at the E.F. Lassahn Funeral Home, P.A., 11750 Belair Road (Kingsville) on Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 11 am - 2 pm. A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, January, 18, 2025, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
Juan Carlos Stecco was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and was one of thirteen children. He was extremely close to his eight brothers and four sisters. He was known as “Carlos” to all who knew and loved him. He met the love of his life, Elisa, on a bus in 1956 when he was 19 years old. They married 5 years later and together came to Baltimore in 1963. Carlos started in the jewelry world as an apprentice, and honed his skills at companies like J. Jenkins Sons Co. and Leon Levi Jewelers. He became a master jeweler and an expert in all steps involved in jewelry making and repair work. He was able to start his own jewelry design and repair business in downtown Baltimore before moving to Essex and later Perry Hall. He retired in 2006.
One of his true loves and lifelong passions was the beautiful game - soccer. He learned how to play in Argentina and began playing professionally in 1956. Between 1956 and 1961, he played in the Argentine First Division with Club Atletico Nueva Chicago and in the Second Division with Club Atletico Estudiantes de Buenos Aires. After coming to Baltimore, Carlos played for several local teams: Italia Soccer Association (1965), Baltimore Kickers (1966), Pan-American Union (1967-1970), Greek Americans of Washington, DC (1971), Baltimore Kickers (1972-1974), Casa Bianca SC (1974), Spain SC (1976 - 1983), Hispanic Soccer Federation (1984), Millonarios (1984 - 1987) and Casa España (1988 - 1989) where he was both player and coach. Carlos also played for many years with the Baltimore Kickers Old-Timers Soccer Club. His soccer coaching career included various youth Catholic War Veterans teams. His club coaching career included Casa España (1990-1992), America Soccer Club (1992-1995) and Baltimore Kickers (1996 - 2000), as well as assistant coach at Harford Community College.
Carlos was involved in soccer off the field as well. He was a proud volunteer during the 1984 Summer Olympics for soccer matches held in Annapolis and volunteered at St. Vincent’s Villa in Timonium where he taught soccer to abused and neglected children. He was also a long-time member of the Old Timers Soccer Association of Maryland (now Maryland Soccer Legends) and an at-large delegate for the Maryland State Soccer Association. One of the highlights of his soccer experience and one of his proudest moments came in 1998 when he was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame.
Carlos worked hard to assimilate to a new country and culture when he arrived in 1963, and eventually became a US citizen, but he never, ever forgot where he came from. He repeatedly visited family and friends in his beloved Argentina and instilled in his family a love of all things Argentina and especially the Argentina National Soccer Team. He was a kind, humble and giving man who made every effort to help other immigrants as they came to this country. In 1984, he was appointed by Mayor William Donald Schaefer as a member of the Mayor’s Committee on Hispanic Affairs. He volunteered his time with various ethnic organizations, including The Argentine Club of Maryland and his home was always open to anyone who needed guidance and words of encouragement.
In addition to soccer, Carlos enjoyed traveling. He and his wife enjoyed many trips home to his native Argentina, as well as visits to Mexico, Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Tunisia, Croatia and Spain. He also loved wine, crabs, writing poetry, art, music and theater, even learning to play piano after he retired and joining a senior theater group at Essex Community College. He was always the last one at the table picking crabs. His book of poetry written for his wife will live on forever--he was a true romantic. His love of family was his greatest passion, and he was happiest whenever he gathered with his family around him. He was the pillar of his family, and he knew that he was lucky to have lived a life filled with love, adventure, family, friends and soccer. In his later years, Carlos would always say, "I've lived a good life." Those who knew him can certainly attest to that.
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