Stephen J. Sebesta was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in the predominantly Czech Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. He attended Cathedral Latin High School, obtained a B.S.C.E at Ohio University, an M.S.C.E in environmental engineering and an M.S in occupational and environmental health from the Medical School at Wayne State University and a Ph.D. from The Union Institute. Dr. Sebesta, a registered professional engineer, has served as President of Stephen J. Sebesta and Associates, Inc., Consulting Environmental Health Engineers since 1980. He has taught on the faculties of Cleveland State University and Case/Western Reserve University and has served on a Board of Advisors for the Russ College of Engineering at Ohio University. He has served as President of the Cleveland Chapter of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) and as a Vice President of Sokol Greater Cleveland at Bohemian National Hall. He has lectured on the subjects of the Czechs in Cleveland and the Cleveland Czech Legionnaires throughout the U.S. and in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and is the author of "The Wartime Experiences of A Cleveland Czechoslovak Legionnaire."