Stephen Charles Cross

Obituary of Stephen Charles Cross
Stephen Charles Cross, a retired Burlington, Massachusetts Police Officer, passed away suddenly on September 9, 2025. He was 65 years old.
Stephen was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, one of seven children of Francis and Mary Louise (Kiley) Cross. He grew up in Burlington and was a proud member of the Burlington High School Class of 1978, where he played football and lacrosse. He went on to earn his Bachelor's Degree from Northeastern University and later received a Certificate from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting.
Stephen dedicated more than 40 years of his life to law enforcement, serving as a full-time Burlington Police Patrolman for 33 years and continuing as a Reserve Police Officer for the past 7 years. He began his career as a patrolman and later served as a D.A.R.E./School Resource Officer for 13 years. He was co-founder and founding President of Burlington D.A.R.E., Inc., which supported youth and summer programs, as well as officer training for youth education.
Always striving to better himself and his service to others, Stephen earned certificates in Addiction Counseling, Critical Incident Peer Support/Crisis Intervention, and as a SMART Recovery Facilitator. He also served as a Level III Instructor for the Massachusetts Police Training Committee for 8 years. Beyond policing, he worked as a Recovery Support Specialist at Phoenix House of New England, wrote as a columnist for the Burlington Union newspaper, and hosted a monthly public safety talk show on Burlington Cable Access Television.
Stephen's community involvement extended even further. He facilitated the radKids summer program from 2005 to 2016 and organized the Senior Citizen Holiday event from 2002 to 2016. He was also a member of the Greater Lowell Critical Incident Stress Management Team from 2019 to 2023. His education, professional dedication, and countless hours of volunteering showed his deep commitment to serving the residents of Burlington and beyond. He guided youth toward positive choices, supported those struggling with addiction, and cared for the seniors of his community. Stephen's heart was filled with empathy, kindness, and a true calling to help others.
After retiring, Stephen and his wife, Linda, moved to Boynton Beach, Florida, while spending summers at their home in Westford, Massachusetts. Never one to sit still, he continued to serve as a Reserve Police Officer in Burlington while in Massachusetts. In Florida, he worked as a Security Agent and Supervisor at the Amerant Bank Arena, Baptist Health Iceplex, and War Memorial Auditorium. An avid hockey fan, Stephen especially loved working Florida Panthers hockey games, where he enjoyed duties such as controlling access to the visiting team locker room during NHL games. Though a devoted Boston Bruins fan, he took great pride in being part of the Panthers' two Stanley Cup–winning seasons.
Stephen's love of hockey extended into his personal life. He built an entire room dedicated to his collection of memorabilia, including more than 200 jerseys from nearly every NHL team. Each day he would don a jersey and share a photo of himself enjoying the Florida sunshine poolside in his lanai. He also collected pucks and other memorabilia.
Stephen's love of sports was also evident in his passion for football. He shared a deep loyalty to the New England Patriots with his father and brothers, holding season tickets for many years. Together, they had front-row seats to witness the Patriots' remarkable journey to their last nine Super Bowl appearances-memories he cherished.
Beyond sports, Stephen had a wide range of interests. He was a proud member of the Lexington Minutemen, actively participating in Revolutionary War reenactments. One of his most memorable experiences was marching in President Bill Clinton's inaugural parade -a true highlight for someone who deeply appreciated both history and politics.
After completing broadcasting school, Stephen co-hosted a radio talk show where he engaged in thoughtful discussions on current events, politics, and sports. He also enjoyed golfing during his years in Massachusetts and was an avid traveler. Among his most meaningful trips were WWII battlefield tours-one in Europe and another in the South Pacific-fulfilling a lifelong dream. Another standout adventure was an Alaskan cruise, and he especially loved the long drives between Massachusetts and Florida, taking in the beauty of the country's overlooked landscapes.
Stephen was a devoted police officer, a man of many interests, and above all, a kind and compassionate soul. He embraced life, followed his passions, and made a difference in the world-one person at a time. He was truly a "good man," deeply loved, and will be missed by all who knew him.
Stephen was the beloved husband of Linda (Stephan) Cross. He was the father of the late Devin Alexander Cross and Benjamin Francis Cross. He was the grandfather of Dahlia Cross of Michigan. He was the son of Mary Louise "Mary Lou" Cross of Tewksbury, formerly of Burlington and the late Francis Cross. He was the brother of Lisa Goguen & her husband Dennis of Andover, Sheila Cross-Lunde of North Attleboro, Ann Thompson and husband Michael of Woburn, Peter Cross of Norwood, Michael Cross and wife Lisa of Middleton, and the late Richard Cross. He was the brother-in-law of Eric Stephan and his wife Gina. He was also survived by many nieces, nephews, friends, and his beloved dog, Max.
Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Friday November 14 beginning with a Police Officer Walk Through at 3:30pm, then a public visitation from 4 to 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, stveronicama.org, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, on Saturday November 15 at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a private interment in Sanbornton Cemetery in Sanbornton, NH. In lieu of flowers memorials in Stephen's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 or the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, www.ASPCA.org.