Steven George Chomo

Steven George Chomo, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday morning July 28th, at his home in Oxford, MA. He was surrounded by those who loved him best and had walked alongside him on every step of this long illness. 

Steven leaves behind his loving wife of 44 years, Nancy (Matthews) Chomo. More than anyone, she was by his side in every way possible. In sickness and in health was not just something she promised to him, but what she lived every day for the past 12 years. They met in February 1978 and while the blizzard that year kept them apart, he never stopped courting her through love letters and phone calls. It was truly love at first sight and they wasted no time making it official, getting married in October of that same year. Their service at St George’s Cathedral in South Boston was a joyous event attended by friends and family and no fewer than 5 priests. Their union was blessed from the beginning and they remained closer and more in love than any other couple anyone can name.

His oldest daughter Sarandë Chomo Jackson of Leominster, MA will always carry her fathers sarcastic sense of humor, his, what you see is what you get personality, and his love of cooking without a recipe. Her son Wesley Steven (8) will carry on Steve’s love of playing the doumbek and is considering taking up golf to get that hole-in-one his Gjyshi always wanted. Steven was well loved as well as liked and respected by her co-parent, Wesley’s father, Christopher Jackson of Fitchburg and Sarandë’s fiance, Kyle Culotta of Phoenix. His daughter, Sage Culotta (16) who became part of the family this year, quickly endeared herself to Steven and the family and will continue to know him better through the stories she will hear.

Steven leaves behind his middle daughter Nicole (Chomo) McMahon and her husband Kristofer of Pomfret, CT, who have hosted numerous family dinners over the years. They will miss dad taking over the kitchen and making the food too spicy. How he held our family to traditions and the importance of gathering together around the dinner table will be continued in their home. His grandchildren, beautiful and intelligent Madison Taylor (16) cheerleader, athlete and joke teller, and the light of his life, Makenzie Olga (12), the playful and rambunctious Mason John (5) will all deeply miss their Gjyshi and the love he showed them their entire lives. 

He leaves his son Justin, their special baby, who will continue to be loved and cared for by his sisters and his mother and the wonderful staff at his group home in Worcester. 

      Steven was born April 9, 1950, in Worcester, MA to Metre and Olga (Stavre) Chomo. He battled Amyloidosis since 2010, fighting back this disease that could have taken him from us so much sooner. The fighter that Steve was didn’t let that happen and he hung on and stayed strong and sharp until the very end. His family sends a very special Thank You to all the doctors and nurses, from Florida, to Connecticut, to Umass Worcester and Boston, who took care of him despite his attitude and the sarcasm he simply couldn’t turn off. Dr John Berke at the Amyloidosis Center at Boston University and Dr. Jeffrey Shih at UMass cardiology were absolutely integral to how Steve was able to hang on and live an active life as long as he did. In the end, the care team at Notre Dame Hospice not only took care of Steven, but made sure Nancy was taken care of and supported her as she looked after the love of her life. 

Steven is predeceased by his eldest brother Anthony Chomo, his best friend Harry Kachadoorian and his beloved nephew Frankie Chomo. He is survived by his older brother, Philip Chomo and his wife Cassandra of Nantucket, MA and his sister-in-law Janet Chomo of Simi Valley, CA, widow of his brother Anthony. There are countless nieces and nephews and cousins who will also miss their Uncle Stevie. 

The line between Family and Friends often got blurred for Steven. Friends called Uncle, or Xhaxhi were so common that the distinction didn’t often matter. His closest friends were like his brothers, their wives became Nancy’s sisters-in-law and their kids were Sarandë, Nicole and Justin’s cousins. Not one among them had a more loyal and loving and kind hearted and funny friend. 

            Stevie graduated South High School in Worcester in 1968 where he made some of his lifelong friends and played football. He later attended Worcester State College and the University of Arkansas (Woo pig Sooie! Go Razorbacks!) where he studied social studies. He always maintained that curiosity about the past and the history of early America and Albania as evidenced by the large collection of books in the subject he built up over so many years. After college though, instead of going into teaching history or social studies, Steven followed his passion for cooking; for feeding people, for bringing them together around a table. 

            Steven worked various food service jobs, at TJX, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, he wanted to do things his own way (in typical Chomo style.) Bringing family and food together, Steven and his nephew Frankie opened up the Park Ave Sandwich shop on Park Avenue in Worcester in 1981. 

In 1994 Steve and Nancy went on to open Bisco’s restaurant in Leicester Center where he stayed in business for over 5 years. There he served up food from the grill all made with love. From a simple breakfast, to peanut butter and jelly omelets, Popeyes (french toast with an egg in the middle, a Chomo family favorite) the Monty Chomo Sandwich and Fish n’ Chips Fridays, Bisco’s was by definition, a family restaurant and a family business. 

After living the restaurateur life for so many years, Steven went to work for the State of Massachusetts Department of Corrections. He went from feeding the kids in Juvenile Hall to making sure all the inmates housed across the DOC were well fed. In 2010, Steve made the decision to leave the office and join the Corrections Officers on the floor. At 60 years old, he enrolled in the Corrections Officer Academy and trained alongside “kids” half his age. He went through that gauntlet, passing all the tests in strength and agility that they did and crossed the stage with them while his family cheered loud and proud from the audience. He kept that job until he retired and maintained that that was one of his proudest professional accomplishments.

In 2016 Steve and Nancy realized their dream of retiring in Florida. They had a lovely house that they made a home and created their own Florida Family by always having their doors open for late night card games, homemade meals and a well stocked wine fridge. Days were spent by the pool, enjoying good meals and good company and was the perfect reward for lives spent in service. 

Steven Chomo was a beloved husband, adored father, and loyal friend. He was always quick with a comment, sarcastic or biting but always delivered from a place of deep love. That was never questioned by anyone who knew him, loved him, and were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of his quips. He worked hard his whole life, but as hard as he worked, he loved as intensely. To say we will miss him, is to criminally understate how the place in all of our lives that he occupied will never be whole again. He was truly a one of a kind human being, and may his memory be eternal.

Family and friends are welcomed to a celebration of Steven's life with Visiting Hours on Friday, August 5 from 9-11am with a Funeral Service at 11am in St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury St. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Steven's memory to: St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church or the Amyloidosis foundation at https://amyloidosis.org/act/donate/.