Obituary for Stephen P. Tereshko
Stephen P. Tereshko, age 69, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away on Monday, March 7, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Patricia (Garcia) Tereshko with whom he enjoyed 46 years of marriage. He was born in Lowell on September 2, 1952 and was the son of the late Jacob Jr. and Doris (Lowrey) Tereshko.
In addition to his loving wife, Stephen is survived by his children Jill (Tereshko) Duchesne and her husband Jeffrey and Lisa Tereshko; his granddaughter Avery Lorraine Duchesne and his second grandchild on the way, his siblings; Michael Tereshko and his wife Kathleen and Donna (Tereshko) McKittrick and her husband Robert McKittrick and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.
Following graduation from Northeastern University, Stephen began his long electrical engineering career at Concord Computing Corporation, Burroughs Corporation, and Fasfax Corporation before pursuing his long-standing career at Sanders Associates in Nashua, NH. He remained working for Sanders, though the company underwent many name changes (Sanders Associates, CalComp, Sanders Lockheed, and BAE Systems), and retired after 35 years. During his tenure at CalComp, he was a primary player in the design and development of IBM's 5080/6090 Graphics Terminals used in the emerging Computer Aided Design (CAD) of aircraft and automobiles. Stephen received the Engineering Excellence Award for the introduction of highly complex Gate Array Micro-Electric Devices used to dramatically reduce size of digital circuits and systems. These devices were highly used within the graphics terminals but also BAE Systems supplied EW components for the nations F-22 Raptor Fighter Aircraft. Stephen was a leader, architect, and designer of complex control circuits for the F-35 Lighting Fighter Aircraft EW system.
Beside Stephen’s technical abilities, he was a tremendous mentor to both upcoming and seasoned engineers both technically and professionally and can be credited for the successful advancement of numerous engineers’ careers. One of the many reasons for his great mentoring skills was his uncanny way of simplifying the complex and staying even keeled. It was not uncommon to see a stream of system, software, and hardware engineers visiting his office to gain technological knowledge and advice to the point he was affectionately referred to as “The Fountain" (of knowledge).
Stephen’s knowledge overflowed into his personal life to include becoming “The Answer Man” and “Mr. Fix-It” as he could remedy all problems he was faced with by his family and friends. From yardwork, woodworking, home and car repairs, he was always first to offer a helping hand to those he loved while also “puttering” around his own house and yard on various projects. When he did find time to relax, he was happiest spending time with family and friends while skiing, sailing, playing tennis, and fishing. Every summer he valued spending time with family on Nantucket relaxing, watching his granddaughter, kayaking, hiking, walking the docks, driving on the beach to Great Point, and biking around the island.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 3pm to 6pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. Masks will be required at all services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Stephen’s memory to Mass General Hospital, please specify, Multiple Myeloma Fund online or by mail MGH Development Office 125 Nashua St. Suite 540 Boston, MA 02114. Stephen’s family thanks the caring staff at MGH and Care Dimensions Hospice House of Lincoln.
In addition to his loving wife, Stephen is survived by his children Jill (Tereshko) Duchesne and her husband Jeffrey and Lisa Tereshko; his granddaughter Avery Lorraine Duchesne and his second grandchild on the way, his siblings; Michael Tereshko and his wife Kathleen and Donna (Tereshko) McKittrick and her husband Robert McKittrick and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.
Following graduation from Northeastern University, Stephen began his long electrical engineering career at Concord Computing Corporation, Burroughs Corporation, and Fasfax Corporation before pursuing his long-standing career at Sanders Associates in Nashua, NH. He remained working for Sanders, though the company underwent many name changes (Sanders Associates, CalComp, Sanders Lockheed, and BAE Systems), and retired after 35 years. During his tenure at CalComp, he was a primary player in the design and development of IBM's 5080/6090 Graphics Terminals used in the emerging Computer Aided Design (CAD) of aircraft and automobiles. Stephen received the Engineering Excellence Award for the introduction of highly complex Gate Array Micro-Electric Devices used to dramatically reduce size of digital circuits and systems. These devices were highly used within the graphics terminals but also BAE Systems supplied EW components for the nations F-22 Raptor Fighter Aircraft. Stephen was a leader, architect, and designer of complex control circuits for the F-35 Lighting Fighter Aircraft EW system.
Beside Stephen’s technical abilities, he was a tremendous mentor to both upcoming and seasoned engineers both technically and professionally and can be credited for the successful advancement of numerous engineers’ careers. One of the many reasons for his great mentoring skills was his uncanny way of simplifying the complex and staying even keeled. It was not uncommon to see a stream of system, software, and hardware engineers visiting his office to gain technological knowledge and advice to the point he was affectionately referred to as “The Fountain" (of knowledge).
Stephen’s knowledge overflowed into his personal life to include becoming “The Answer Man” and “Mr. Fix-It” as he could remedy all problems he was faced with by his family and friends. From yardwork, woodworking, home and car repairs, he was always first to offer a helping hand to those he loved while also “puttering” around his own house and yard on various projects. When he did find time to relax, he was happiest spending time with family and friends while skiing, sailing, playing tennis, and fishing. Every summer he valued spending time with family on Nantucket relaxing, watching his granddaughter, kayaking, hiking, walking the docks, driving on the beach to Great Point, and biking around the island.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 3pm to 6pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. Masks will be required at all services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Stephen’s memory to Mass General Hospital, please specify, Multiple Myeloma Fund online or by mail MGH Development Office 125 Nashua St. Suite 540 Boston, MA 02114. Stephen’s family thanks the caring staff at MGH and Care Dimensions Hospice House of Lincoln.