Obituary of Stephen Michael Dunatov

Stephen Michael Dunatov, Area Logistics Manager at Advance Auto Parts.

“The noblest art is of making others happy.” -- P.T. Barnum  

Steve Dunatov was a juggernaut in the automotive and transportation industry, with a career that spanned more than thirty years. Born in Buffalo, New York, to Fulvio and the late Celia Ann Dunatov, he was the youngest of four siblings: the late Michael Dunatov, Mark Dunatov, and Michelle Condo-White. 

Steve's love of cars and trucks started early; he grew up helping his dad work on the family car.  As a young man, he took jobs at the local mechanic shops and auto parts stores. Eventually he moved into the driver’s seat. Starting out with wheelchair vans and healthcare transportation services, he continually sought positions that would help increase his skills. He trained on the job, working his way up from driving box trucks making local furniture deliveries, to refrigerated trucking and regional freight hauling. In this way, he progressed to larger and longer vehicles, ultimately finding himself a Heavy Hauler driving multi-axle Canadian/Michigan B-Trains and multi-axle sleds transporting steel products within the United States and Canada. 

After a move to South Carolina in 2007, Steve’s dedication and determination soon led to management opportunities. He quickly advanced from a dispatcher up through the ranks of transportation and logistics management. Though he was recognized for numerous achievements throughout his career, he was never one to mention his awards or accolades. Instead he considered his greatest accomplishments to be the happiness and success of his family and friends. 

While he was always known for his tenacity and incredible work ethic, his true gift was the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships. His generous and caring nature made friendships easy. He was always the first one to help anyone in any situation, whether he knew them or not. And once a friend, always a friend. He had multiple people in his life that he considered brothers, sisters, and extended family. He was endlessly devoted to his wife, Stephanie, the greatest love of his life, with whom he had two children: a daughter, Celia (Brian) Nelson, and a son, Colin Dunatov.

Steve also found considerable enjoyment in cooking for others. Whether it was baking a lasagna, grilling bacon wrapped chicken, or smoking brisket, it was never for himself. Sharing food was one of the many ways in which he showed people how much he loved them. He prepared extravagant meals for family, friends, and co-workers alike. Second only to cooking, tooling around in the garage remained one of his favorite pastimes. He was always available to help someone make a repair. The people who knew Steve best, knew he was always working, yet was somehow never a workaholic. As far as Steve was concerned, he was just helping a friend, regardless of the time of day or night. 

It would require infinite space to list all of the people who are counted among those who feel his loss, but to have known Steve, however briefly, was to know how much he cared. We will miss his easy humor, his warmth, and sitting at his table. Yet, the love he freely offered us will remain in our hearts forever. 

Steve passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. He was 49 years old. 

There will be a Celebration of Life event Saturday, July 15th, 3pm-8pm

Newberry Hall

117 Newberry Street SW

Aiken, SC 29801 

(Please be mindful that no food, drinks or memorials items may be brought in to the event venue. Any flowers should be delivered to the funeral home on or before Friday, July 14, 2023. )

Memorials in Steve's memory may be made the the American Cancer Society by visiting www.cancer.org

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 649.6234 has charge of arrangements. 

Online Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com