STEVEN P. BOURLETT

Steven Patrick Bourlett, 77, passed away quickly and peacefully at home in Little Compton, RI, on April 8, 2026, after a six-year battle with Parkinson’s.

“No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away...The span of someone’s life is only the core of their actual existence.”  - Terry Pratchett

Born in Brooklyn, New York on March 16, 1949, Steven graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology with a degree in electronics engineering—later rounded out with a master’s degree in digital signal processing.

Steven’s life was characterized by his unwavering kindness, his profound patience, and his gift for teaching and mentorship. He served his communities throughout his life: as a Sunday School teacher, a parish committee member, a Boy Scout troupe leader, and a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of RI for over a decade as a big brother. Ripples left in his wake.

His career spanned over 40 years as an electronics engineer for the Navy at NUWC. His work for the Navy took him as far as Guam, Germany, and Hawaii, though to his dismay it also dragged him onto boats for days (he was prone to seasickness: waves, it turns out, were not so much to his taste!)

Steven was a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy: evidently growing up on Star Trek, Heinlein, and Tolkien set a precedent.  When he wasn’t re-reading his favorite books for the umpteenth time, he loved to be outside running, cycling, adding to the (extensive) list of national parks he had visited, and devoting time to his family. His friends and family will remember him for his omnipresent wit and pervasive sense of humor. He had the ability to take frustration and turn it around with a joke to highlight a silver lining. He brought laughter when he entered a room, and left joy behind him. More ripples.

He is predeceased by his father John Bourlett, his mother Catherine Bourlett, his brothers John Bourlett and Nicholas Bourlett, and his sister Janice Bourlett. He is survived by his wife, Michele Bourlett, his two sons, Noah Bourlett and Patrick Bourlett, and his Little Brother mentee Lawrence “Chris” Gross.

A memorial service will take place at Fern Acres Funeral Home, 72 Willow Avenue, Little Compton, RI on April 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM. For additional information please visit:www.FernAcresFuneralHome.com

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