West, Steven

U. S. Marine Lance Cpl. Steven M. West, age 20, of Wilmington, formerly of Billerica, died, July 2, 2008, in Thailand while on active duty.

Steven was born on August 11, 1987, in Lowell, MA, he was the beloved son of Jacqueline S. (O’Hara) Rooney of Wilmington and David G. West of Nashua, NH.

Steven grew up in Billerica & Wilmington, he attended Wilmington High School and Billerica High School before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. in 2006. Steven was an extremely accomplished musician, he was a member of many “Strings Attached” programs including the Wilmington Chapter, where he enjoyed teaching younger students and was also very active in the Billerica music program. As a teenager Steven played with the Lowell Philharmonic and performed in groups with musicians from Berklee College of Music.

During the enlistment process, Steven was selected, by audition, to be a member of the United States Marine Corps Band. After Basic Training at MCRD Parris Island, Steven attended the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia. He was a member of the renowned III MEF ( 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force) Band, based in Okinawa, Japan, whose task was to perform for foreign dignitaries all around the Pacific Rim. Steven recently performed on the island of Iwo Jima for the 60th Anniversary of the battle that turned the tide in WWII. Steven was proud to be a Marine and serve his country, he was especially proud recently when he earned his “Expert Rifleman Badge” while serving in Japan.

Steven is survived by his mother Jacqueline S. (O’Hara) & her husband Dennis Rooney of Wilmington, formerly of Billerica and his father David & his wife Rose West of Nashua, NH, formerly of Tewksbury, his three brothers Dennis, James, & Cullen Rooney all of Wilmington, his grandparents Patricia O’Hara of Billerica and Robert & Elizabeth West of Tewksbury, his uncles James & John O’Hara formerly of Billerica, Michael, Robert, Daniel, James, & William West all formerly of Tewksbury, his cousin Jack O’Hara of Haverhill and a large extended family in Wilmington. Steven was also the grandson of the late James O’Hara.

His Funeral Service will be held from the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington, on Monday, July 14th, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Thomas Church, 126 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington, at 12:00 noon. Interment Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, July 13th, from 4-8 p.m.

Memorial donations in Steven’s name may be made to Steven M. West Memorial Fund, c/o Lowell Five Savings Bank, 240 Main St., Wilmington, MA 01887.

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