Stephen F. Deterra

Stephen F. “Boston Chowder” DeTerra, 68, passed away April 6, 2021 at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  He was born July 30, 1952 in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  After graduating from New Bedford High School in 1970, he served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975, primarily stationed in West Germany.            
After his honorable discharge, he returned home to Massachusetts and became a professional firefighter and paramedic, a career of service to which he dedicated his life.  Throughout the 1980s, as a professional firefighter and paramedic, he served his community working in some of the most challenging and dangerous parts of the Boston metropolitan area.
He married his ambulance partner, fellow paramedic Barbara (Grady) DeTerra, in 1986.  After the birth of their son, Michael “Mike” DeTerra, in 1987 the family relocated to his wife’s native Wisconsin where he honorably served on the Green Bay Fire Department until his retirement in 2011.  On the Green Bay Fire Department, he earned the nickname “Boston” on account of his accent and the moniker “Chowder” for his famous New England Clam Chowder, which became a firehouse favorite.
He enjoyed cooking all varieties of seafood and loved the ocean.  In his younger years, he and his wife were avid scuba divers and certified advanced open water divers who particularly enjoyed shipwreck and reef diving.  Later, in retirement, he became an avid bicyclist and enjoyed traveling throughout Wisconsin on bicycling trips with his wife; often staying at various Bed & Breakfasts.  While some hobbies replaced others as life progressed, his passion for golf remained strong throughout his life.  His grandfather taught him to play golf at a young age and he remained an avid player.  He was also a lifelong Red Sox fan and enjoyed science museums, art exhibitions, aquariums, and train museums as well as blues clubs and jazz music.  As a firefighter, he volunteered for telethons and supported the Green Bay Area Professional Fire Fighters’ Local 141 Charity Committee.  In retirement, he volunteered for CASA and was a court appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children in Brown County, a cause to which he was especially dedicated.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Grady) DeTerra, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, his son, Michael “Mike” DeTerra, of Washington D.C., his sisters Gail and Karen DeTerra of Florida and four in-laws, Steven, Patrick, Mary, and Maureen “Molly” Grady.       
He was preceded in death by his parents, Constance “Connie” (Arendt) and Stephen P. DeTerra.
Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N Webster Ave, DePere, Wisconsin on Friday, April 16 from 4:00p.m.-7:00p.m.  Visitation will continue on Saturday, April 17 at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 720 N. Baird Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin from 10:00a.m. to 11:15a.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30a.m. with Fr. Jose Lopez officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the Green Bay Area Professional Fire Fighters Local 141 Charity Committee.              Stevie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Vincent Hospital, especially the Emergency Room (ER) and Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) doctors and nurses for their dedication and compassion, and the perseverance of the researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH), the University of Wisconsin, and the National Prion Disease Pathology Center.