Steven J. Enos

Steve “Poppy” Enos was born in Boston, Massachusetts on Nov. 8, 1961 to Herbert and Virginia Enos. He was the youngest of six children, a graduate of Boston Technical High School and a proud, retired Navy veteran serving more than 23 years in defense of the country he loved.

Steve served in both the Massachusetts Army National Guard and The United States Navy. He joined the National Guard after graduating in 1980 from high school and completed boot camp and A school for Military Police at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. He served with the 972nd MP Company out of West Newton, MA. He joined the Navy in May of 1984, leaving for boot camp on May 8th, the day before he and his wife’s second anniversary. Steve retired from military service in December 2003, being honorably discharged from the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Goose Creek, SC. The years of service shaped the young man that joined the military into a proud, loyal and sometimes “grumpy’ man.

Steve married his wife Barb on May 9th, 1982 and they were as in love when he passed as they were on their wedding day. They had two daughters born of their union and their Daddy loved them right up until the day of his death. Steve would often be seen wearing his “Grumpa” shirt, as it defined him perfectly. “Grumpa, like a regular grandpa, only grumpier.” Steve was lovingly compared to “Grumpy” of the Seven Dwarves, as he was a man of few words, and could seem to be grumpy even when he wasn’t. He made his grandchildren feel loved, safe and valued.

Steve and Barb met in the 6th grade in Mrs. Sallen’s art class at the Agassiz School in Jamaica Plain, but didn’t like one another much then. By their sophomore year of high school, they were a couple. They went to different high schools, but lived only one street apart while growing up. They married at the First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain and lived in JP until leaving for their first duty station in Pensacola, Florida. Steve became an Electronics Warfare Technician serving the fleet out of Newport, RI on board the U.S.S. Capodanno FF-1093. Steve served in many places around the world, his favorite being on the island of Diego Garcia, in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Upon retirement from military service, Steve and Barb settled in the Charleston, SC area and were actively engaged in their church and community. Steve worked for Par Technologies for almost 10 years after retiring from the military and they moved to the Asheville, NC area for his work in 2007. Steve and Barb stayed in the Asheville area for 11 years before moving back to SC to be close to their grandchildren, daughter Casey, and her husband Kaz. Steve was employed by The Home Depot in both NC and SC after leaving Par Tech and loved his job. In October of 2019, Steve suffered a catastrophic stroke that would eventually bring him and his wife back to the greater Boston area to live out the remainder of his life surrounded by extended family.

Steve is survived by his loving wife Barb of Jamaica Plain, daughter Casey Malys and her husband Casimir “Kaz” of Ladson, SC, daughter Mandee Nitchman and her husband David, of Asheville, NC, and his beloved grandchildren, Riker and Rachael Malys and Hayden and Evelyn Nitchman, his mother, Virginia Enos of Londonderry, NH, brothers Jack Enos and wife Kathleen of Londonderry, NH, David Enos and wife Nancy of Jacksonville, FL, and Ronald Enos of Raymond, NH and his beloved sister-in-love Ann Enos of Norton, MA. He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert Enos, sister, Linda Enos and brother, Daryl Enos. Steve also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins as he was part of a very large family.

Steve's wife and family would like to recognize the contributions made by the staff members of the Veteran's Administration Hospitals of Richmond, VA, West Roxbury and Boston, Massachusetts, without whom his homeward bound journey would have been much more difficult. The hospice unit of the Boston VA/Brockton Division kept Steve comfortable right up to the end. In closing, Barb would like to remember the staff that became family at the Polytrauma Unit in Richmond, VA for all their hard work, compassion and love shown to both Steve and herself.

There will be a time to gather and reminisce for family and friends on Saturday Feb. 20, 2021 at Gillooly Funeral Home in Norwood, MA from 1-5pm. Steve would want you all to be comfortable, formal dress made him uncomfortable. Come as you are, share your memories and wish Steve fair winds and following seas. Internment will be Tuesday, February 23rd, at the National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts. Steve will be laid to rest with full military honors and a unique send off with “Bubbles.” For those that knew Steve well, you’ll get this...

Steve’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: The Fisher House Foundation in his memory, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Both organizations were dear to Steve and he believed in their missions. Both organizations can be found online and would greatly appreciate any gifts to be made.