In Memoriam: Little Silver Resident, Artist & Children’s Book Author, Stephen Surico, 71

Little Silver resident, artist and children’s book author, Stephen Surico, passed away at home on July 21, in the loving care of his grandaughter Lucia Abouzeid and her partner Josh Kim. He was 71.

The “beloved husband of the late Sandra Abouzeid Surico, he had no children of his own. He was cherished as a father and grandfather to the many members of his extended family and will be deeply missed by all,” family said in his obituary. He and Sandra “spent many happy years traveling the world and doting on their grandchildren before she passed away in 2015. They lived in West Palm Beach, FL and in Quechee, VT before moving to Little Silver to be closer to family. Stephen’s world revolved around Sandra; they rarely spent a day apart.”

He and Sandra founded the Voices of Wellness in West Palm Beach, an outreach program anchored in spirituality and focused on the addiction recovery movement.

Stephen Surico
Photo/family via Thompson Memorial Home

“Stephen’s passion, however, was art. He was an accomplished sculptor and painter, and an avid art historian. He credited his high-school art teacher with encouraging him to pursue what turned out to be a life-long journey of creativity that touched everyone who met him. Stephen was not religious, but he was very spiritual. One of Stephen’s projects was a children’s book he wrote called “The One-Winged Angel” about a boy who goes to Heaven to get his missing wing. His grandchildren grew up affectionately calling him “Bear.” They looked forward to joining him and Sandra in Vermont every summer for two weeks of “Camp Bear” during which Stephen led them in art projects and explorations of spirituality and
of the great outdoors.”
Loved ones of Stephen Surico in his obituary

Stephen is survived by: his step-children, Pamela Lister, of Fair Haven, Mandy and Donald Galante, of Little Silver, Chris Abouzeid and Kathy Crowley, of Belmont, MA, Mark Abouzeid and Sophie Beer, of Italy; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; his brother, John Surico, his sister, Margo Mazzeo; and his nieces, Melissa McCrum and Dee and Jean Surico.

He will be celebrated in a private family memorial. The family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Stephen’s name to Stephy’s Place at https://www.stephysplace.org/sp/.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home