Obituary of Stephen M. Galinos

Stephen M. Galinos, 68, of Billerica, a beloved fisherman, motorcyclist, and devoted family man, passed away Friday, April 18, in the comfort of his home, with his loving family by his side.

Born in Winchester, the son of Lenora (Caros) Galinos and the late Evangilos Galinos, Stephen was raised in nearby Burlington, where he developed lifelong friendships, a strong sense of family, and an early passion for the outdoors. He graduated from Burlington High School with the class of 1975. A machinist by trade, Stephen owned a successful business for many years before becoming an employee and retiring from MIT.

Stephen’s life was defined by love and connection to his family, friends, nature, and the road. He and his wife Marion were married for almost 40 years. They built a family when they adopted their daughter Isabel in 1999. Isabel was the light of Stephen’s life and would often refer to her as the best thing that happened to him and Marion. A lover of animals, Stephen found great comfort in the company of his beloved dog, Harley. He loved making homemade dog treats and taking Harley to the dog park.

 Stephen loved motorcycles, and nothing made him feel more alive than cruising on his Harley through the White Mountains, to Vermont, Saratoga Springs, and even Nova Scotia. In his early twenties, he rode his motorcycle cross-country with some of his close friends. He journeyed to Laconia for Bike Week every June and rode with his close-knit group of riding friends to wherever the wind took them. His bike wasn’t just a machine, it was a symbol of independence, friendship, and the free spirit that lived within him.

Stephen’s love of nature extended far beyond the road. He was also an avid fisherman. Whether he was deep-sea fishing, fly fishing, ice fishing, or casting a line into a lake, Stephen found peace and joy with a fishing rod in hand and water before him. Some of his most treasured memories were the fly-fishing trips he took with his brother George, especially their getaway adventures to Montana, Idaho, and Canada.

Stephen’s adventures were not limited to local roads or the US. He and Marion took several trips to Aruba with friends. They also traveled to Greece with his Mom and Isabel in 2019 to celebrate his Mom’s 80^th birthday and Isabel’s 21^st birthday. In 2022, Stephen and Marion traveled to Turkey through Istanbul, Izmir, and Bodrum before embarking on a 7-day sailing cruise with six Turkish friends.

Stephen loved to cook and host dinners and parties for family and friends. It was so gratifying for him to try new recipes and share his Greek culinary creations, including his roasted lamb, egg and lemon soup, stuffed grape leaves, and spanakopita. For him, cooking and feeding others was an act of love.

As a talented and intuitive handyman, Stephen had a gift for fixing things. There was hardly a household item or mechanical part that could stump him. He found immense pride and satisfaction in working with his hands, from restoring an old MG that belonged to his father to rebuilding an old motorcycle.

Stephen’s legacy extends far beyond his adventures. He will be remembered for his humility, his kindness, and the quiet strength he carried through life. He had a rare ability to bring people together, whether around a campfire, at a fishing spot, on a motorcycle ride, or simply over a cold beer at the local tavern. He was the guy you called when you needed something fixed, but even more so when you needed someone to listen. He didn’t just make things work, he made people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Stephen is survived by his devoted wife, Marion (Johnson) Galinos of Billerica, his loving daughter, Isabel Galinos of Billerica, his mother, Lenora Galinos of Burlington, his siblings George Galinos of Billerica and Melanie Bolduc of Burlington, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his visiting hours on Monday, April 28^th, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington. His funeral home service will follow at 1:30 PM with burial to follow in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, donationas in his memory may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.