Lawrence Joseph Landry

BERLIN- Lawrence Joseph Landry, 90, of Berlin, Massachusetts, died peacefully Friday, July 14, 2017 at The Reservoir Center for Health & Rehabilitation in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Carolyn (Bassow) Landry; their daughter, Michelle Stein and son-in-law, Neil Stein, of Safety Harbor, Florida, and granddaughters, Jessica Stein of Dunedin, Florida, and Jillian Stein of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; their son, Mark Landry, daughter-in-law, Laurie (Evans) Landry, grandsons, Michael Landry and Timothy Landry, their respective wives, Jill and Michaela, and granddaughter, Meghan Landry, of Marshfield, Massachusetts; their daughter, Linda Fountain, son-in-law, Joseph Fountain, and grandson, Joseph Fountain of Middletown, Connecticut, and grandson, Christian Fountain of Somerville, Massachusetts; and their son, Douglas Landry, daughter-in-law, Debora Forte, grandson, Benjamin Landry, and granddaughter, Charlotte Landry, of Natick, Massachusetts.

Born and raised in Athol, Massachusetts, he was the son of Joseph and Adeline (Chiasson) Landry of New Brunswick, Canada, and brother to Muriel True of Portland, Maine, Winifred Masters of Canandaigua, New York, Regina Kucinskas of Athol, Massachusetts, and Paul Landry of Thousand Oaks, California, all predeceased.  He is survived by his brother, Alban Landry, of Winchester, Massachusetts.

Mr. Landry attended Athol High School and was a standout athlete who played football, hockey, basketball, and semi-pro baseball.  After graduating with the Class of 1945, he briefly served in the United States Navy as a Seaman First Class and attended business college in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he also hosted a radio show on veterans’ affairs.  He returned to Athol and became a laborer with the Army Corps of Engineers to help construct Tully Dam in nearby Royalston, Massachusetts.  He married Carolyn Bassow in November 1955 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Orange, Massachusetts, and worked at various positions with Erving Paper Mill, Union Twist Drill, Girardi Distributors, and Greenfield Tap & Die. 

He was an avid golfer and enjoyed umpiring Little League and men’s softball.  Although he was a lifelong New York Yankees fan, he also was passionate about the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Bruins.  He loved his vacations at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, and York, Maine, and was famous for his family breakfasts, sitting in his front porch rocking chair, and keeping everybody laughing with his Henry Kissinger impersonation.  He especially enjoyed telling stories in the company of his grandchildren who affectionately called him “Papa” and “Tickle Beard.” 

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m on July 22, 2017  at Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange.

Interment in Gethsemane Cemetery, Athol, will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Special Olympics Massachusetts, 512 Forest Street, Marlborough, MA 01752

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is directing the arrangements.