Steven L. Bilski

Steven Larry Bilski, 67, of Kittery Point, Maine, passed peacefully on December 1, 2022 amidst family following a two-year battle with Glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer. Always creative and self-motivated, Steve was a born engineer. Whether manifested in his passion for the natural world, cooking his "signature" dishes, building boats, or exploring music and the maritime life, a spiritual sense guided both the process and goal. His smile could light up a room and his kind ways made everyone around him feel welcomed. 
Steve moved to the Upper Valley from his native Connecticut in 1979 where he began his engineering career designing and building wind turbines. He later developed emergency lighting systems for airplanes and ships, and many other high-tech solutions in the US and abroad for Luminescent Systems. The pinnacle of his engineering work was his contribution to NASA's Mars robotic rover "Curiosity." Steve helped design and build a vacuum pump for the rover that met the extremely challenging requirements necessary for work on Mars. Although planned as a two-year mission beginning in 2011-12, the rover Curiosity continues to function today, over ten years later, greatly expanding our understanding of Mars.
Perhaps his greatest passions were boat building and sailing. He designed and built a steel-hulled sloop "Talofa Lee" with assistance from his long-time friend and fellow mariner Dan Krawiec. He later took on another major boat project, rehabbing a Niagra 35 foot sailboat he named "Velorum," the brightest star in the Gamma Velorum system.  While he was never able to finish renovating Vellie, his buddy Dan will take that project to loving completion.
Steve met the love of his life Melanie Moore and her daughter Chloe in the Upper Valley. It was a partnership that has lasted nearly thirty years. A loving husband and beloved stepfather, Steve quickly became central to their little family. While work was always a focus, the family had fun hiking, traveling, going to concerts and ballets, spending hours in ice rinks watching Chloe play hockey, and "parenting" numerous felines who came into their lives.    
Retiring early, Steve and Melanie moved to Kittery Point, Maine in 2017, where he was working to finish Vellie. His life was cut way too short, but he accomplished much and made an impact on many in his years on earth. After diagnosis, he lived for two years before the cancer returned and quickly took his life. His last eight days were spent at Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover, NH, surrounded by family and friends. His family is eternally grateful for the loving care Hyder House staff gave Steve and all who stayed with him or came to visit.  Thanks also go to Massachusetts General Hospital and neuro surgeon Dr. Brian Nahed, the Sea Coast Cancer Center and Dr. Christine Wasilewski, Dana Farber Institute and Dr. David Reardon, and Maine Partners Medical Oncology and Dr. Christine Lu-Emerson.
Steve was predeceased by his parents Henry and Lavina Bilski of Farmington, Ct and Green Valley, AZ. He is survived by his wife Melanie Moore; stepdaughter Chloe Norten of Grand Isle, Vermont; brothers Kenneth Bilski and wife Gail Fondahl of Prince George, British Columbia, and David Bilski and wife Jill Linzee of New Harbor, Maine; nieces Gwynne Bilski of Glasgow, Scotland, and Emma Bilski of Baltimore, Maryland; and numerous cousins. He also leaves their three cats: Smudge, Hammie, and his best buddy Charlie. The family is planning to hold celebrations of Steve's life sailing off the coast of Kennebunk, hiking Mt. Washington, and in Burgundy, France. 
Memorial contributions may be made to The Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O.Box 62066 Durham, NC 27715 or Hyder Family Hospice House, 285 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820.
The Cremation Society of New Hampshire has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence or for more information please visit www.csnh.com.