Stephan Karras
Stephan George Karras, 37, of San Jose, California, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Born in Aurora, Colorado, and raised in Sunnyvale, Stephan was the beloved son of the late George Karras and Ann Karras-Rule, and the cherished stepson of Keith Rule. He was the devoted life partner of Gina Little, with whom he shared a life filled with love, laughter, and creativity.
Stephan served as a Transit Construction Inspection Supervisor at RSE Corporation, where he oversaw key infrastructure projects throughout the Bay Area. His commitment to quality and safety left a lasting impact on the communities he cared so deeply about.
An accomplished and passionate artist, Stephan expressed his creativity through a variety of mediums—from large-scale murals throughout the Bay Area to mixed media pieces and canvas paintings. His ultimate artistic passion was in gold leaf and traditional sign painting, a craft he pursued with extraordinary precision and reverence. He was also deeply passionate about the craft of vintage neon signs, drawn to their history, design, and restoration.
One of his proudest personal projects was the restoration of his beloved 1969 VW Bug, affectionately named Bonnie, which he treated as a rolling canvas of craftsmanship and creativity.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Stephan loved spending time outdoors. Camping brought him peace, and the natural world often inspired his work. He also enjoyed friendly competition and camaraderie—he was an avid pool player and found great joy on the golf course.
Stephan had a deep love for animals, especially his three dogs—Freddy, Oscar, and Archie—who brought him constant companionship, laughter, and joy.
Known for his warm smile and kind heart, Stephan had a presence that made those around him feel welcome, seen, and valued. His warmth, creativity, and generous spirit will be remembered by all who knew him.
Stephan is survived by his loving parents, Ann and Keith Rule; his partner, Gina Little; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and many dear friends who will miss him deeply.
A Trisagion followed by a Funeral Service to celebrate Stephan’s life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1260 Davis Street, San Jose.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stephan’s memory to:
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
Or to a charity of your choice, in honor of Stephan’s generous spirit and the causes he cared about.