Stephen Tavillla

TAVILLA, Stephen Of Bedford, 87, formerly of Lexington, died peacefully Sunday, January 1, in his home in Bedford, surrounded by family. As the oldest son in a large family, Steve left school after the 8th grade to help his father run the family business in Boston, providing fresh produce to numerous grocery store chains, restaurants, purveyors and produce retailers. Steve and his six brothers eventually built the P. Tavilla Company into one of the largest wholesale produce distributors in New England, a success story that served for many years as a case study at the Harvard Business School. Other related businesses he and his brothers owned included produce sales companies in California, a potato farm in Maine, a 50+ vehicle trucking firm, a retail produce business, and a tomato farm and packing operation in Naples, Florida. Given his broad experience in all phases of the produce business, Steve was tapped by President Reagan to serve on Presidential Task Forces to several South and Central American nations, advising them on how to improve their infrastructure for getting fresh produce from the farm to the table, thereby substantially lowering spoilage rates which at the time routinely approached 75%. Known as the "Pied Piper of Faneuil Hall", Steve orchestrated the move of all of the wholesale produce dealers from that historic location to the newly constructed New England Produce Center in Chelsea to allow its redevelopment into the vibrant retail center that is Faneuil Hall Marketplace today. This experience led Steve to his second career in real estate, including the purchase of the wholesale produce centers for the cities of Miami and Houston the development of a multi-use office park in Acton, Massachusetts and a 1,000-unit golf course community in Naples, Florida, known as the Strand. A natural expression of his deep faith, Steve served on numerous non-profit boards, including those of Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, where he received an honorary doctorate, and where he and his family donated funds toward a namesake dormitory, Lexington Christian Academy, and on the building committee of Grace Chapel, also in Lexington, overseeing construction of the present 1500 seat sanctuary. Steve and his brothers helped found New England Teen Challenge, a group with a remarkable track record changing the lives of young people contending with drug and alcohol addictions.Steve also served for many years on the boards of City Bank and U S Trust of Boston. Despite his many commitments, family was a priority for Steve. He was actively involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren and never missed a significant milestone event in their lives. Steve is survived by Claire, his wife of 64 years, son Paul Tavilla and his wife Ann of San Antonio, TX, daughter Stephanie and her husband Joseph Calareso of Coral Springs, FL, daughter Linda Ware and her husband Kirk of Westford, MA and daughter Cynthia of Lowell, MA, 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Calling hours are 4-8 pm Friday, January, 6, 2012 at the Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Road, LEXINGTON and the Memorial Service on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Grace Chapel, 59 Worthen Road, Lexington at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Stephen and Claire Tavilla Scholarship Fund, Gordon College, 255 Grapvine Rd, Wenham, MA. 01984 Douglas Funeral Home Lexington 781-862-1800 www.douglassfh.com