RIXEYVILLE, VA: Stephen T. Puzas, 84, died on March 28, 2013 in the University of Virginia Hospital after a brief illness. He was the loving husband of Sylvia (Elms) Puzas with whom he shared fifty-eight years of marriage.
Born in Portland, Maine on December 1, 1928, he was the son of the late Stephen and Madelyn (Roche) Puzas. He attended Haverhill schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School. He was a resident of Bradford, Fort Pierce, FL, Bartlett, NH and most recently of Rixeyville, VA where he had moved to be by his daughter. A U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, he was honorably discharged on July 2, 1954.
Steve worked as a salesman at R.J. McCartneys Clothing Store in Lawrence from the young age of sixteen until his retirement in 1988. He was also part owner along with Norman Trottier of Country Square Formals in Haverhill for many years. Steve’s long and successful career in clothing could be attributed to his outgoing personality and the professional manner in which he conducted himself.
He was a long time member of the Crescent Yacht Club and the Bradford Country Club. Steve enjoyed golf and watching all professional sports.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Stephen T. Puzas, Jr. and his wife, Kristine of Phoenix, AZ, David W. Puzas of Boston and Lauren J. Duckett and her husband, William of Rixeyville, VA; four grandchildren, Daniel and Caitlin Duckett and Stephen and Alex Puzas; a sister, Joanne de Caix and her husband, Yves of Paris, France; a brother-in-law, John F. Elms and his wife, Rita of Land Harbor, NC. He was predeceased by his son, John M. Puzas.
A celebration of Steve’s life will be held on Friday, June 14th in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 52 Salem Street, Bradford at 11a.m. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are welcomed to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Steve’s memory to the American Lung Association of the Northeast, 460 Totten Pond Rd, #400 Waltham, MA 02451, or to the Chrohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, 2 Squire Lane, Branford, CT 06405. For more information and to send online condolences, please visit www.linnehan-grondin.com.