Steven Kent Roda died unexpectedly at his home in Harwich on Feb. 19, 2025. The cause, confirmed by his stepdaughter Beth Federico, was cardiac arrest. He was 76.
Stevie was born on April 27, 1948 in Provincetown to the late Anthony and Doris (Johnson) Roda. His father worked in the Post Office.
Stevie was president of his class and consistently on the honor roll. He also played guitar with the Gladiators and was voted “the wittiest” and “most original” in his class.
After graduating in 1966, Stevie went to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. But it was the 1960s, and he hit the open road to pursue his own path after his first year. He was inducted into the Army in May 1968.
He served for nearly three years, including as a field radio operator in combat and received the Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals. He did not talk about his war experiences, said family members, but his time in combat shaped him, especially after returning to a deeply divided country.
Before shipping out for Vietnam, Stevie attended a Jimi Hendrix concert at Clark University with his sister, Sharon, in 1969. Years later, he reminisced about seeing Janis Joplin perform.
Following his military service, Stevie spent a year traveling across the U.S., immersing himself in the music scene, and returned to Provincetown in 1972. He learned carpentry and worked as an independent contractor and for various construction companies until his retirement in 2008. He was known for his diligence, skill, and generosity. After retiring, he worked at Stop & Shop.
In 1992, Stevie reconnected with classmate Sandra Valentine; they forged a lasting bond. On their first Valentine’s Day together, Stevie sent her so many floral arrangements that they covered the dining room table. They married on Valentine’s Day in 1999 and shortly thereafter moved to Harwich. They celebrated their 26th anniversary this year.
Stevie was a lifelong baseball fan, cheering for the Red Sox and later, with Sandy, the Harwich Mariners. His knowledge of sports was unmatched.
Though Stevie had no children, he embraced Sandra’s as his own. “When I was a self-conscious teenager,” his stepdaughter Beth said, “Stevie was the first person to convince me I was capable. He made me feel smart.”
He covered the walls of his basement man cave with photos of his stepchildren and grandchildren. He loved spending time with the grandchildren, attending their concerts, athletic events, award ceremonies, and dance recitals; he always yodeled to celebrate their accomplishments. They called him “the funniest grandparent.”
Stevie’s family remembers him as a man who asked for little and gave a lot. His generosity and love of puns are also remembered. His signature greeting at any time of year was “Merry Christmas!”
Stevie is survived by his wife, Sandra Valentine-Roda of Harwich; his stepchildren, Lisa Bennett and daughter Taylor of Boca Raton, Fla., Beth and Adam Federico and their children, Zachary and Sam of Melrose and Caitlyn and fiancé James of Boston, and Bobby and Eva Enos and their children, Madelyn, Robert, and Emma of Eastham; his sister, Sharon, and husband Dewey Dwinell of Warren, Vt.; his niece, Sydney, and husband Nate Ayotte of Saratoga, N.Y.; and his nephew, Schuyler Dwinell, and partner Angel of Falmouth.
A private gathering to honor Stevie’s life was held on March 1.
In lieu of flowers, donations may go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
