Dr. Stephen R. Brovender

Dr. Stephen R. Brovender, MD, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at D’Youville Life and Wellness Community in Lowell. He was 95 years old. He was the beloved husband of Jacqueline (Grenez) Brovender with whom he shared 70 years of marriage.

He was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Ruben and Rose (Goldstein) Brovender and attended NYC public schools. After graduating from Brooklyn College in 1953, he pursued his dream of becoming a physician by relocating to Brussels, Belgium, where he enrolled in the Universite Libre de Bruxelles Medical School. It was there he fulfilled another dream, as he met and married the love of his life Jacqueline, also a student. Upon completing medical school in 1959, Steve and Jacqueline returned to the United States with their son Marc, and he completed his internship at Bridgeport Hospital in CT where their daughter Claire was born. The family then moved to Hanover, NH where he completed his residency and fellowship in Gastroenterology at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The family developed many lifelong friendships while in Hanover, as well as the love of skiing that took hold there, and they created memories and bonds that have lasted a lifetime. In 1964 the family relocated to Chelmsford, MA where Steve established his private practice while being affiliated with three local hospitals. In the 1970s, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Anabasis House heroin recovery program and the Lowell methadone clinic. He was the recipient of several medical awards, coauthored “Health Care of the Older Adult” which established the training curriculum for the first Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Lowell, and he represented his colleagues when negotiating terms with Lowell hospitals and insurance companies.

Steve loved his career but more so loved his family. When not working, he enjoyed time traveling with Jacqueline, Marc and Claire, often to see family in Belgium and further exploring Europe and the US. He led the family on skiing and hiking trips and loved to be on the water sailing. There was nothing better than times spent with the whole family together, relaxing at home in Chelmsford or on the pond in Sandown, NH.

In addition to his loving wife, Dr. Brovender leaves his children Marc Brovender and his wife Mary, and Claire Liliedahl and her husband Dan; his grandchildren Jacob Liliedahl, Jessica Liliedahl and her partner Brandon Lutz, Matthew Liliedahl, Nicolas Brovender and his partner Julia Gocal, Alexander Brovender and his wife Sarah; and greatgrandchildren Aidyn Liliedahl and Theodore Brovender. He also leaves many nieces and nephews and their families in Belgium, as well as many lifetime friends that he considered family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Brovender’s name to the Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation at salgi.org or Doctors without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 at 11 AM at First Parish Unitarian Church, 2 Westford Street, Chelmsford, MA with reception in the vestry to follow. Interment will be held privately.