MARLBOROUGH – The memory of Steve Uliss was honored at the place where he put Southern barbecue on the map in New England.
On Monday, Dec. 2, friends, family and fans of Uliss gathered at Firefly’s BBQ on Boston Post Road East.
Uliss, 61, died unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 22.
“He was very, very beloved, a great family man,” said Dave Andelman, former CEO of the Phantom Gourmet, who knew Uliss for decades. “I cannot say enough good things about my friend.”
Andelman was there with his two brothers, Dan and Michael, along with several crew members from Phantom Gourmet who helped serve food to the crowd.
One of the crew members, Maureen Hutchins, said of Uliss, “He seemed to make a lot of people very happy.”
Family members, including his wife, Amy, accepted condolences and shared stories with visitors.
City Councilor Mark Oram recalled seeing Uliss while vacationing in Maine. Oram and his wife were also frequent customers at Firefly’s.
“It’s a major loss for the city,” he said.
Uliss himself was everywhere inside the restaurant – in photo collages, in videos, and above all with the dozens of stories shared among those who knew him.
Visitors were asked to consider a donation to the Steve Uliss Culinary Scholarship, which will be created in his honor to serve the students of his alma mater, Shawsheen Valley Technical High School.
Checks, made payable to “Steve Uliss Culinary Scholarship,” may be sent to Amy Uliss, P.O. Box 130, Hopkinton, MA 01748.
