Devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Disabled Vietnam Veteran, Retired Police Sergeant
Stephen A. Kandrotas, 79, of Lowell, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Lowell General Hospital, with his family by his side.
He was born in Lowell on April 12, 1947, a son of the late Steven A. Kandrotas and the late Mary W. (Jacobs) Kandrotas.
Steve enlisted in the United States Air Force on April 28, 1966, and served until his honorable discharge on January 22, 1970, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. A disabled Vietnam veteran, he carried the lessons of those years with him for the rest of his life and remained proud of his service and devoted to his fellow veterans.
Returning home, he answered a second call to service and gave the Town of Tewksbury 45 years of his life in law enforcement. He joined the Tewksbury Police Department as a Police Officer in July of 1978, was promoted to Police Sergeant in June of 1993, and served in that rank until his retirement in August of 2003. Retirement did little to slow him down, and he continued to serve the community he loved as a Reserve Police Officer for another twenty years, from 2003 until 2023. He earned his Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College and also held his contractor's license, a reflection of a man who was never content to stop learning or to leave a skill unmastered.
Steve had a lifelong love of cars, particularly classic muscle cars, and he could happily spend an entire afternoon at a car show, talking shop with anyone who would stop and admire an engine with him. He was an avid golfer, and he treasured the family's condo in the White Mountains, where over the years he skied, hiked, and biked. He loved to travel with Peach, whether it was a long road trip or a simple day trip with no particular destination in mind. He was always working around the house, and when his own projects were finished he could be found helping a neighbor, a friend, or one of his sons with theirs. There was no repair he would not attempt and very few he could not finish. Above all, he cherished the time he spent with his family, and especially the hours in the pool with his grandchildren, George and Vivian.
He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Mary "Peachie" (Wayne) Kandrotas of Lowell. The couple was just weeks away from celebrating their golden anniversary. He is also survived by his two sons, Michael Kandrotas and his wife Amanda (Maciejewski) of Lowell, and Jeffrey Kandrotas of Lowell; his two cherished grandchildren, George and Vivian Kandrotas; his brother, Robert W. Kandrotas of Salem, NH, his brothers and sisters in law, John McDonough and his wife Dr. Ellen T. McDonough of Lowell, Judith A. Wayne of Lowell and Dr. Kevin Wayne and his wife Leanne Gillis of Lowell and Nevis; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a great many lifelong friends. He was the brother in law of the late Gerald Wayne and David Wayne.
The Kandrotas house was a very lucky house, because they lived with the smartest man in the world. He will be deeply missed.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Monday, September 14, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 01852.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a service of remembrance on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Burial will follow in Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, MA, where military honors will be accorded.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Stephen A. Kandrotas may be made to DAV Chapter 47, PO Box 12, North Billerica, MA 01862, or to the Veterans Home in Chelsea, 91 Crest Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150.