Stephen B. Doukas

Groton - Stephen B. Doukas, 78, passed away Aug. 11, 2025, in the presence of his loving wife Pam and adoring daughter Lesley.

He was born in Claremont, N.H. in 1947 to Nicholas and Harriet Doukas.

After the family moved back to Connecticut, Stephen attended Jordan Elementary in Waterford and St. Joseph in New London, before moving to Groton, where he graduated from Fitch Senior High School.

While in High School, Stephen worked as a mechanic at Nick's Service Station in Waterford alongside his father Nick before joining the United States Navy in 1966. Stephen believed the Navy was instrumental in providing him with the discipline, skills, and tools he needed to succeed in life. He loved reminiscing and telling stories of his life in the Navy, which always began, "I remember this one time…" at which point he would start laughing, even before the story began. The memories of his "buddies," their camaraderie and antics brought him much joy and a lot of laughter. Towards the end of his stint in the Navy, while on leave, he met his first wife, Theresa DiChiro Doukas. After they married, he was blessed with a darling daughter, Lesley, who filled his heart with a love he'd never known before and gave his life a whole new purpose.

Stephen eventually obtained a position at the United States Post Office where he was an Electrical Technician or as he always said, "a trouble shooter" for the automated machinery that kept the mail moving. As an organized and analytically minded man, he loved solving the mechanical and software problems that arose at work.

While working at the Post Office, he met and married his current wife, Pamela Prentice Doukas, eventually retiring and moving to a retiree golf community in Spring Hill, Fla. There, as he did everywhere, he became part of the community and developed friendships he maintained for the rest of his life.

He enjoyed his "snowbird" existence, playing golf in the Florida warmth and sunshine during the winter and spring, then traveling to his home in Connecticut during the summer and fall to be with family and friends during the holidays.

As time passed and health sometimes failed, Stephen, Pam, and their precious and loyal dog, Zoe, moved back to Connecticut. Never one to sit around for too long, he reconnected with his friends from the Post Office for luncheons and games of golf. He never talked about his golf handicap, just his friends and enjoyment of the game. On Sundays, he would organize morning meet ups at the driving range with his brothers-in-law, Mark and Matt.

Stephen was always interested in connecting with people. "Peoples are peoples" he was fond of saying, which he learned from Kermit the Frog. If you were a friend of his – whether cousin, work buddy, brother-in-law, or neighbor – you were a friend for life. He will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. We will miss his stories, his jokes, his generosity of spirit, his love and his laughter. If it is true that "the love you take is equal to the love you make", Stephen made enough love to change the world.

Stephen was predeceased by his father Nicholas Doukas; mother Harriet Rogers Doukas; and sister Harriet Doukas Hagelin.

He is survived by his wife Pamela Prentice Doukas; daughter Lesley Doukas Hermans, husband Jake Hermans; granddaughter Mia Hermans; stepdaughter Sarah Koster; grandson Sante Gallagher; Lesley's mother Theresa Doukas; brothers, J Kevin Doukas, wife Tania; F Joseph Doukas, wife Sharon; sisters Theresa Doukas; Sheila Williams; Ellen Hasselmann, husband Matt; Catherine Crowel; Suzanne Doukas Niermeyer, husband Mark; Nicolette Doukas, husband Mark Kuhn; and sister-in-law Maryellen Adams, husband Dave; daughter Jen; brother-in-law Rick Prentice Jr.; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Please join Stephen's family and friends for a celebration of his life Sept. 6, 2025, at Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St. Calling hours are between 10 and 11:30 a.m. with a brief service at 11:30. In lieu of flowers, donations in Stephen's memory can be made to the American Cancer Society. Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guest book or share a memory with the family.