HOLLIS- Anthony (Tony) Paul Stevenson passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on Friday, November 24, 2023.
Tony was born in Portland, Maine on August 02, 1962, to the late Joseph Stevenson and Thomasina (Napoleone) Stevenson, and was the youngest of ten children.
He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Rae-Ellen Vacchiano, and their four children, Jessica Stevenson (Ed Lizotte), Melissa Rae Brown (Thomas Doyon), Brian Brown and his partner Elizabeth Mildenberg, and Derek Stevenson and his wife Heather.
It is well known the best Dads get promoted to Papa, a role Tony treasured. He is survived by his adoring grandchildren, Hunter, Parker, Peyton, August, Gaia, Anthony James, Mariah, Jordan, Tianna, Anthony Joseph, and Isabelle. All of whom he cherished.
Tony also leaves behind his beloved siblings, Henry Stevenson, Edie Gribbin and her partner Tom, Tina and Dave Enman, Maryann and Jim Grimaldi, Cathy and John Hardy, Charity and Eric Bratton and Barbara and Bob Chappelle. Tony was predeceased by his brothers Vernon Stevenson and Joseph Stevenson.
Tony’s friendships are too numerous to count. Tony was “Dad” and “brother” to many and was often the center of his beautiful chosen family.
Anthony was an accomplished carpenter, a career he began to pursue while still a teenager and continued to master throughout his life. He loved creating and restoring, and could almost always be found tinkering around in his workshop. Whether giving new life to old things, lovingly crafting toys for his grandchildren, or just passing the time, many friends and family have had the honor of taking his art home.
Always the life of the party, Tony enjoyed hosting the boys for a night of music, beer, poker, and shooting pool. And somehow, even though his singing was questionable at best, the night always seemed to end with some karaoke. He loved going to the casino and scratch tickets (a bit too much if you ask Rae-Ellen). He simply loved being around people and enjoying the company of the ones he held dear.
On his 60th birthday, the summer of 2022, Tony was able to fulfil his dream of a helicopter ride over the ocean.
Tony will be missed more than words can possibly describe. Our world has lost a bright light, and without his loud and boisterous laugh, his endless stream of dad jokes, his questionable Italian, and even his singing, the world will be a little dimmer. But we are all thankful for the time we were able to love him and be loved by him.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday Dec. 2nd from 11 AM - 1 PM, followed by a 1 PM funeral service at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt. 22) in Buxton. Burial will immediately follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Hollis.