Rev. Steven Michael Seminerio

Rev. Steven Michael Seminerio of Concord, MA, and East Haverhill, NH, passed away on February 23, 2026, in Concord, MA, at age 100.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilyn; sisters and brothers-in-law Ann DeSalvatore (Patrick) and Helen Goodwin (Ronald), sister and brother Vincenzina and John, who each died as children; and a nephew, Robert DeSalvatore (survived by Linda).

Steven was born on January 31, 1926, in Everett, Massachusetts, the son of the late Andrew and Santina (Pennio) Seminerio, both immigrants from Sicily who established a successful tailor shop in their new country.

At Everett High School he played basketball and was a State shot put qualifier, graduating in 1943. He completed a semester of pre-medical studies at Boston University before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. After boot camp in Sampson, NY, and medical training at Camp Lejeune, NC, he was selected to join the 6th Marine Corps Division as a corpsman (medic), and saw combat duty in Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Guam, and China.

After the war, he re-enrolled at BU, changed his course of studies to pre-ministerial, and met his wife-to-be, Marilyn Langmaid, in the Chapel Choir. They graduated together from the School of Liberal Arts on June 5, 1949. (Steve was honored as one of fifteen BU “Hall of Fame” seniors.) He was already serving as assistant pastor at Glendale Methodist, his home church in Everett.

Six days after graduation, he and Marilyn married on June 11, 1949; and he began his full-time ministry as a summer youth counselor/chaplain at Asbury Grove Christian Camp Meeting in Hamilton MA. In 1950, he was ordained as a Deacon, and in 1953, he graduated from BU’s School of Theology with a Master of Divinity degree.

As a United Methodist minister, Rev. Steve pastored Massachusetts parishes in Somerville, West Medford, Marblehead, Saugus, Melrose and Wayland, with his special talent for bringing people together. He sang duets with Marilyn and soloed in church cantatas. He served nine years as Secretary of Evangelism for the Lynn District, and as chair of the New England Conference Board of Evangelism. For over 16 years he was a staff member and director at Rolling Ridge Methodist youth center in Andover MA.

In 1965 the New England Conference awarded Steve the coveted Stowell Scholarship to spend five weeks in the Holy Land and India. His church (St. Stephens in Marblehead) raised funds for Marilyn to join him afterwards for a three-week tour of Europe.

“Retiring” in 1992, he and Marilyn moved to Marilyn’s family homestead in East Haverhill NH, where he began a second chapter of pastoral service. For years he had been holding summer vesper services in the East Haverhill UM Church, and soon found himself in demand as interim pastor at local churches - North Haverhill UM, Bradford UCC, Thetford Hill UCC, West Newbury UCC, Orford UCC, Moultonborough UM, Wells River UCC, and Newbury UCC. He was also a popular Sunday service guest preacher at area churches including Corinth UCC, Windsor UCC and Haverhill UCC. As an active member of Haverhill VFW Post 5245 he often served as Chaplain.

In 2007, Steve and Marilyn began wintering at Newbury Court, a senior community in Concord MA, where on June 11, 2024 they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with family and friends.

On November 6, 2024 Steve was awarded the Golden Cane Award from the United Methodist Church, as the longest-serving pastor in the New England Conference.

He is survived by his beloved four children, Alison Rupert (Richard) of Hughesville PA, Andrew Seminerio (June) of Melrose MA, Steven Seminerio Jr. of Melrose MA, and Susan Strakus (Michael) of Lynn MA; granddaughter Juliana Seminerio Eramo (Mark) and great-granddaughters Serafina and Forza of Andover MA; grandson Matthew Seminerio (Emily) and great-grandsons Montgomery and Maxwell of Medfield MA; grandson Michael Strakus (Nicole) and great-granddaughter Jasmine of Clinton MA; grandson Paul Strakus (Penny) of Beverly MA; nephews Richard DeSalvatore (Karen) of Woburn MA, Andrew Goodwin (Marcy) of Marshfield MA, and Michael Goodwin (Michelle) and grandnieces/nephew Faith, Zachary and Giana of North Easton MA, niece Lydia Caros of St. Paul MN and grandnieces Eleni AyoCaros (James) of St. Paul MN and Kyra AyoCaros (Scott) of Boston; niece Cindy Caros of Grantham NH and grandniece Chelsea George of Merrimack NH.

Steve’s family, friends and parishioners will fondly remember his warm inclusive pastoring, his passion for sports (as player or spectator), his Marine Corps pride, his devotion to Marilyn, his life-long morning ritual of marking Bible chapters with red pencil, and most of all - the way he brought the fun to so many gatherings, lighting up the room with his love of people.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Steve on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Duvall Chapel, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord.

A May 2026 graveside memorial service in East Haverhill, NH, is being planned under the care of Ricker Funeral Home, Woodsville, NH 03785 (603) 747-2717 http://www.rickerfh.com/

In lieu of flowers, the family offers two suggestions for memorial donations:
VA Bedford Healthcare System
CDCE (135)
200 Springs Road
Bedford, Massachusetts 01730
(Write check payable to "Bedford VA" with “In memory of Steven Seminerio” on the memo line.)

Newbury Court
c/o Spiritual Life Department
100 Newbury Court
Concord, MA 01742
(Write check payable to “NEDA” with “Spiritual Life Fund” on the memo line.)

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com