Kurt Lawrence, 79, died October 17, after a sudden illness.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Thalia Lawrence; his daughter, Diedre and her husband Mark Roberts, of Boxford, MA; his son, Gregory and his wife Katie Ryan of Brookline and Marblehead, MA; and his four grandchildren, Hope and Lila Roberts; and Fiona and Cooper Lawrence. He is also survived by his brother Henry, of Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Lawrence graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point, NY, with a BS degree in Marine Engineering and a commission in the United States Naval Reserves. He traveled extensively throughout South America and Africa after graduation. He took graduate courses at the University of Connecticut and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He was employed by General Dynamics for 40 years, starting in Research and Development, and retiring as Manager of Engineering, having been responsible for managing a variety of advanced engineering programs and received numerous awards for achievement during his tenure.
He also authored several technical papers for a variety of engineering societies and received two patents in the field of Turbomachinery.
He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In recent years, he enjoyed building meticulously detailed and beautiful ship models, and acting as the devoted caregiver and advocate for his beloved wife, Thalia, who has been suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. His kind and gentle manner will be sorely missed by family and friends.
There will be no services or visitation. Burial is private in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Mystic Seaport Museum Annual Fund, Mystic Seaport, P.O. Box 6000, Mystic, CT 06344-0990 or through the website, www.mysticseaport.org.
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