SKC's Story (American Sign Language)
April 8, 2022
Many thanks to Dr. Dae-Kun Kim, Assistant Professor at Gallaudet University and Board Member of the Greater Washington Asian Deaf Association, for his ASL obituary to Steven Chough.
SKC's Story (English)
April 4, 2022
Dr. Steven Kevin Chough peacefully passed away in Silver Spring, MD at the age of 90 on March 30, 2022. Over his lifetime, Steven was recognized as a leader and passionate advocate for the needs of Deaf communities in the United States and internationally.
Steven’s life was the very embodiment of the American dream. Born Cho Kyong Koun in Kimchon, Korea in 1931 to Cho Hee Kap and Cho Lee Bok Hee, Steven was the youngest of five children. Steven’s life was shaped by adversity, having contracted spinal meningitis at the age of three, leading to profound deafness, and having his family’s standing decimated by the Korean War.
Educated at the National School for the Blind and Deaf in Seoul, Steven showed a unique aptitude for languages, gaining fluency in Korean, Japanese, and English. Although deeply frustrated by the unjust treatment of the Deaf, he was encouraged by his family to independently pursue his academic interests. Steven became a teacher at the Christian School for the Blind and Deaf in Taegu at the age of 19, but deeply craved the higher education that was afforded to his hearing siblings.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Steven returned home to help evacuate his family. To secure seats for his family on a crowded train, Steven and other family members volunteered to support the South Korean war effort. As would be a theme in his life, he had to overcome biases toward the Deaf, beginning in janitorial services but rising through the ranks to serve as an agent in the Republic of Korea Counter-Intelligence Corps. Later, Steven served as a civilian typist, translator, and assistant administrator with combat and counterintelligence units of the U.S. Army, where everyone called him “Joe.”
Steven’s life would find a renewed purpose when a U.S. soldier shared an article from Collier’s magazine (December 1950) about Gallaudet College (now Gallaudet University) in Washington, D.C., which was then the world’s only institution of higher education for the Deaf. Despite financial and social barriers, Steven was determined to attend Gallaudet. A friendship with a U.S. G.I. named George Fling led to his mother (Margaret Fling) establishing the “Little Joe” fund through her church in Ashley, Ohio, which provided sponsorship and financial support for Steven to come to America and attend Gallaudet. The American-Korean Foundation secured Steven passage on a cargo ship, and after a 45-day journey, Cho Kyong Koun arrived in San Francisco with $200 in his pocket and adopted the name Steven Kevin Chough. For the remainder of his life, Steven would be affectionately known by friends and colleagues simply as “SKC.”
At Gallaudet, Steven was exposed to a rich and vibrant Deaf culture. While keenly aware of the discrimination Deaf people faced in the U.S and internationally, Steven often described his time at Gallaudet as an awakening, where he realized a deep sense of purpose and belonging. Active academically and in campus life, Steven served as president of Alpha Sigma Pi and, most importantly, first met the woman who would eventually become his wife of 54 years, Nancy Lillian Rohlin of Syracuse, New York.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts at Gallaudet College in 1961, Steven is widely believed to be the first profoundly deaf individual to earn a Master of Social Work degree, conferred from the University of Denver (CO) in 1963. With the generous support of numerous mentors, Steven would earn a Doctor of Social Welfare degree from Columbia University (NY) in 1978, where his dissertation focused on the need and acceptance of counseling services among Deaf college students. Despite the many challenges he faced trying to succeed on hearing campuses with few accommodations, Steven told the St. Paul Press (MN) newspaper, “many times I felt just like drowning . . . but I had an obligation to those who had supported me in my life, so I just decided to fight, fight, fight. I couldn’t let them down.”
Professionally, Steven dedicated his life to expanding mental health and social services, education opportunities, and civil rights for the Deaf. Steven served as a counselor and social worker at schools for the Deaf in New Mexico and Texas and the New York State Psychiatric Institute prior to transitioning to administration roles at the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare, the St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center (MN), and serving as the Director of the Center for Deaf Treatment Services at Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital (MI). Later, Steven returned to Gallaudet University as Dean of Student Affairs, Coordinator for International Student Affairs, and Associate Professor. Steven had a passion for teaching and served as a faculty member at Madonna College (MI), Catonsville Community College (MD), and the George Washington University (DC).
Steven authored numerous academic articles and was an accomplished public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and seminars across the globe. Steven was the recipient of dozens of U.S. and international awards, including the Faculty/Staff of the Year Award from the Gallaudet University Student Body Government (1987), the Professional Achievement Award from the University of Denver (1998), the Excellence Award from the National Asian Deaf Congress (2000), and was recognized as a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers (2001). In addition, Steven served as a board member or advisor to dozens of organizations and government entities, and was especially proud of his work with the National Asian Deaf Congress and the Greater Washington Asian Deaf Association.
Steven loved learning about cultures and was an avid photographer and self-professed “travel bug.” He always prioritized his family and was known for his humor, kindness, and his commitment to helping and mentoring others. As he expressed prior to his passing, he lived an extraordinary life without regrets.
Steven is survived by his wife, Nancy, his two children, Abigail and Alexander, his daughter-in law, Marie, his granddaughter, Zadie, and his sister, Lee Wha Sook.
Steven wanted to see the kindness that was so instrumental to his life replicated for others. In lieu of a memorial service, please add your memories and stories about Steven to this memorial website.
In lieu of flowers, the Chough family gratefully encourages you to make a contribution to The Dr. Steven, '61, and Nancy, '66, Chough Scholarship Fund at Gallaudet University, to provide financial aid to the next generation of international Deaf leaders. To make a contribution, visit: https://gu.live/choughmemorial
Steven’s life was the very embodiment of the American dream. Born Cho Kyong Koun in Kimchon, Korea in 1931 to Cho Hee Kap and Cho Lee Bok Hee, Steven was the youngest of five children. Steven’s life was shaped by adversity, having contracted spinal meningitis at the age of three, leading to profound deafness, and having his family’s standing decimated by the Korean War.
Educated at the National School for the Blind and Deaf in Seoul, Steven showed a unique aptitude for languages, gaining fluency in Korean, Japanese, and English. Although deeply frustrated by the unjust treatment of the Deaf, he was encouraged by his family to independently pursue his academic interests. Steven became a teacher at the Christian School for the Blind and Deaf in Taegu at the age of 19, but deeply craved the higher education that was afforded to his hearing siblings.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Steven returned home to help evacuate his family. To secure seats for his family on a crowded train, Steven and other family members volunteered to support the South Korean war effort. As would be a theme in his life, he had to overcome biases toward the Deaf, beginning in janitorial services but rising through the ranks to serve as an agent in the Republic of Korea Counter-Intelligence Corps. Later, Steven served as a civilian typist, translator, and assistant administrator with combat and counterintelligence units of the U.S. Army, where everyone called him “Joe.”
Steven’s life would find a renewed purpose when a U.S. soldier shared an article from Collier’s magazine (December 1950) about Gallaudet College (now Gallaudet University) in Washington, D.C., which was then the world’s only institution of higher education for the Deaf. Despite financial and social barriers, Steven was determined to attend Gallaudet. A friendship with a U.S. G.I. named George Fling led to his mother (Margaret Fling) establishing the “Little Joe” fund through her church in Ashley, Ohio, which provided sponsorship and financial support for Steven to come to America and attend Gallaudet. The American-Korean Foundation secured Steven passage on a cargo ship, and after a 45-day journey, Cho Kyong Koun arrived in San Francisco with $200 in his pocket and adopted the name Steven Kevin Chough. For the remainder of his life, Steven would be affectionately known by friends and colleagues simply as “SKC.”
At Gallaudet, Steven was exposed to a rich and vibrant Deaf culture. While keenly aware of the discrimination Deaf people faced in the U.S and internationally, Steven often described his time at Gallaudet as an awakening, where he realized a deep sense of purpose and belonging. Active academically and in campus life, Steven served as president of Alpha Sigma Pi and, most importantly, first met the woman who would eventually become his wife of 54 years, Nancy Lillian Rohlin of Syracuse, New York.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts at Gallaudet College in 1961, Steven is widely believed to be the first profoundly deaf individual to earn a Master of Social Work degree, conferred from the University of Denver (CO) in 1963. With the generous support of numerous mentors, Steven would earn a Doctor of Social Welfare degree from Columbia University (NY) in 1978, where his dissertation focused on the need and acceptance of counseling services among Deaf college students. Despite the many challenges he faced trying to succeed on hearing campuses with few accommodations, Steven told the St. Paul Press (MN) newspaper, “many times I felt just like drowning . . . but I had an obligation to those who had supported me in my life, so I just decided to fight, fight, fight. I couldn’t let them down.”
Professionally, Steven dedicated his life to expanding mental health and social services, education opportunities, and civil rights for the Deaf. Steven served as a counselor and social worker at schools for the Deaf in New Mexico and Texas and the New York State Psychiatric Institute prior to transitioning to administration roles at the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare, the St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center (MN), and serving as the Director of the Center for Deaf Treatment Services at Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital (MI). Later, Steven returned to Gallaudet University as Dean of Student Affairs, Coordinator for International Student Affairs, and Associate Professor. Steven had a passion for teaching and served as a faculty member at Madonna College (MI), Catonsville Community College (MD), and the George Washington University (DC).
Steven authored numerous academic articles and was an accomplished public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and seminars across the globe. Steven was the recipient of dozens of U.S. and international awards, including the Faculty/Staff of the Year Award from the Gallaudet University Student Body Government (1987), the Professional Achievement Award from the University of Denver (1998), the Excellence Award from the National Asian Deaf Congress (2000), and was recognized as a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers (2001). In addition, Steven served as a board member or advisor to dozens of organizations and government entities, and was especially proud of his work with the National Asian Deaf Congress and the Greater Washington Asian Deaf Association.
Steven loved learning about cultures and was an avid photographer and self-professed “travel bug.” He always prioritized his family and was known for his humor, kindness, and his commitment to helping and mentoring others. As he expressed prior to his passing, he lived an extraordinary life without regrets.
Steven is survived by his wife, Nancy, his two children, Abigail and Alexander, his daughter-in law, Marie, his granddaughter, Zadie, and his sister, Lee Wha Sook.
Steven wanted to see the kindness that was so instrumental to his life replicated for others. In lieu of a memorial service, please add your memories and stories about Steven to this memorial website.
In lieu of flowers, the Chough family gratefully encourages you to make a contribution to The Dr. Steven, '61, and Nancy, '66, Chough Scholarship Fund at Gallaudet University, to provide financial aid to the next generation of international Deaf leaders. To make a contribution, visit: https://gu.live/choughmemorial