It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Steven J. Latvis of Nashua, NH on June 27, 2021 at Massachusetts General Hospital, just three weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He is the son of Maida M. (Baumgardner) Latvis and the late John W. Latvis of Nashua, NH.
Steve was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on September 18, 1950. He attended St. Christopher Catholic School in Nashua, Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, NH and Nashua High’s class of 1971.
He took the UNH Merrimack Valley Branch Course in Fundamentals of Fire and Casualty and became an insurance salesman for the family business of Latvis Insurance and Real Estate. He also secured his Real Estate license and eventually became a broker. He spent forty-five years in business and retired in 2016.
Steve married the love of his life in 1989 and enjoyed 25 years of marriage before being predeceased by his wife Louise M. (Lafond) Latvis. The three things Steve was most proud of were his wife Louise and his two children, John and Stephanie. He was known to many as Steven, Steve, Lats and to the favorite two as Dad.
Steve cultivated relationships everywhere he went which is exemplified by the many Friday afternoon gatherings for over twenty-five years on his porch, the early morning “pre-game” with Bloody Mary’s on Thanksgiving Day, the summer rentals at Seabrook Beach with his various friends whom he considered family and the North End Golf League.
Steve coached The Nashua Royals little league and went to ski club with his son John, was involved in Actorsingers, attended many swim meets and competitions for both John and Stephanie at The Nashua Swim and Tennis Club where they were members for many years, and attended many dance recitals with Stephanie, even as recent as a few weeks ago. He was also the official “head referee” for many years at the Thanksgiving football games between the North End Neighbors where East meets West at Clarks Field in Nashua, NH.
He grew up an avid fan of the Boston Bruins and attended many games with his childhood friends Brink and Scratchy. He enjoyed taking his wife and children on many vacations including Central Europe, Aruba, Hawaii, Jamaica, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Puerto Rico and one of his favorite places, Anna Maria Island in Florida.
Steve always showed up to every event at least fifteen minutes early and it was his custom to have a properly set table as his mother insisted and pay his bills on the day they were due, not the day before and not the day after. Steven was a gentleman in the true sense of the word. He was the first to reach out to help someone or raise money for a good cause, and he was always the first to grab the check. He collected many contributions for Nashua PAL and organized many fundraisers for friends and their families.
Lats headlined the marquee when it came to his one-liners and quick wit and he had a contagious laugh that will be dearly, but sorely missed. He was the best! He was the best father, best son, best brother, best husband and most definitely, a best friend. Nobody hung out with Lats with “time to kill”, it was always “a time to live” and, live he did! Life was so much better with him in it. Lats was a lifelong friend and follower of Nashua’s Aces & Eights but even his love of Aces couldn’t compare to the true musical love of his life. Time spent with Steve wasn’t complete unless the Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard circuit was completed… at least twice. “His heroes have always been cowboys”.
He loved and appreciated every one of his relationships and celebrations with the Lafond family and considered them blood relatives from the very start. Steven was forever thankful for the continued love and support they showed him and his children after the death of Louise.
Steven is survived by his two children John of Manchester, NH and Stephanie and her fiancé Tyler Costa of Nashua, NH, his Mother Maida M. Latvis, sisters Lynda (Cos Marandos), Tina, Maida K. (George W. Hickey IV), his brother Jeffrey (Deb Valcourt), sisters-in-law Betty (Mark Larrabee), Lynne Paul (Tom Garner), Judy Lafond, brothers-in-law Robert Lafond (Pammy) and Michael Lafond (Gretchen), his many nieces and nephews and his god-daughter.
Steve was predeceased by his wife Louise M. Latvis in 2015; his father John W. Latvis in 2016; and his nephew Tory Marandos in 2006.
There are so many of you whom he loved and cherished and you all loved him back. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity, Nashua PAL, The American Cancer Society or Stepping Stones in Nashua and definitely commit an act of kindness with him in mind. Yessah!
A graveside ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Edgewood Cemetery in Nashua, NH. There will not be any calling hours.
