Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
LAURANCE COFFIN Obituary
Larry was married to Nicole in June of 1963 in La Celle St. Cloud, France. He graduated as a Textile Engineer from Lowell Textile Institute and from MIT with an MS in Textile Technology. He was a member of numerous textile clubs, the Westwood Historical Society, The Westwood Men's Club, and The Marblehead Yacht Club. Larry was an avid sailor and longtime racer in the Marblehead Rhodes 19 class. He loved spending time with his family and friends on vacation in the Berkshires, over dinner, or enjoying a nice sail in Marblehead. He was also a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean conflict.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock Street, WESTWOOD, on Monday, Aug. 19th from 4-7pm. A Funeral Service will be celebrated in the funeral home on Tuesday morning, Aug. 20th at 10am. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry's memory to the Westwood Food Pantry. Holden-Dunn-Lawler
www.hdlfuneralhome.net
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for LAURANCE COFFIN
6 Entries
Gillian Lynch
August 29, 2019
I had the pleasure of crewing for Larry on his Rhodes 19 for two beautiful summers in Marblehead. Larry was a seasoned sailor but always patient and kind with a greenhorn bumbling around his boat. I'll remember sailing and our post sailing tradition of a single Budweiser and a few PB&J's with Cape Cod potato chips on the balcony of Marblehead Yacht Club. He was a wonderful man! My sincere condolences to your family during this difficult time.
August 21, 2019
Dear Nicole,
dear Andrew,
dear Eric and Family,
Larry's passing was a very sad day for the entire Wenger family. Especially I owe so much to Larry who, together with Nicole, was one of my guest parents when I spent a year at Westwood High School in 1986-87. Larry was a very caring man who never asked much for himself or had materialistic needs, he would rather look after others. He could be demanding, expecting you to live up to your potentials. It was Larry who reminded me to not go wasting any talents....and to watch out for my health: "you can only have one soda a day, Bertil"...Being correct and respectful to others was also a major character strait of Larry's. I will never forget when - after I had made fun off one of Nicole's French students in a disrespectful manner - he reminded me that this was a professional appointment and that I better treated it as such. But Larry was fun, too. Witty and ironic, you could have a lot of fun with Larry, especially after a Martini or two before dinner. He never took himself too serious as well and the best laugh you could have with him was always on him. Talking was not so much Larry's thing. I remember when my father-in-law got to know Larry and Nicole and I asked him about this first encounter: "Larry keeps quiet, Nicole can barely take a breath between talking". Nicole was the love of his life and he would do anything for her. Their love was carried by deep trust and understanding. I took this, too, as a role model for a successful marriage and I still do. Respecting when I was a young student, Larry became a fatherly friend for me over the years as everyone else in the Coffin family became family for me as well. For many a visit, at first with student friends, then with my to-be wife Jutta and later with my kids Anna and Felix, the Coffin house would be home to us. It was this exceptional friendliness and warmth towards us that made Westwood a second home to us, and when the time came, it was clear that Anna would spend a year in Westwood as well (which was then enabled by some other great people from Westwood, the Lassen family). Then Marblehead: Larry's sailing heaven where we went so many times. Racing was a serious matter for Larry: I was once yelled at so that I will never do anything again without a clear order on a sailboat! Visiting Westwood was simply not complete without going to the Barnacle restaurant and bringing home lobsters. Now you have gone, Larry, and I consider myself blessed that Nicole insisted that you speak to me one last time over the phone, although you were so tired. You must have known that the end is near, dear Larry, but you did not permit yourself to give up or show despair. Instead, you were happy that I told you that Jutta and Anna were about to come and you even said that the two of us would meet again. Farewell, Larry, you were a great and inspiring man, I owe more to you and your principles of a life of decency than I can express. May the Lord watch over you in eternity, I will always remember you with a deep-felt gratitude for what you did for me and my family. I promise that I will not cease to treat Nicole, Andrew, and your entire family as my family! Rest in Peace, Larry, I love you! Bertil
Peg & John Carty
August 20, 2019
Larry was a sweet and quiet spoken gentleman; we always enjoyed his and Nicole's company when we lived in
Westwood and later visited them on special trips to N.E.
Peg & Joyhn Carty
August 20, 2019
Nicole, sons and grandchildren,
Our deepest sympathy to a fine family and a former neighbor. Larry and Nicole, we shared many happy times long ago and most recently. Your family is very special to us.
All our love, Peg, John, and Jeanne Davison
Robert Russell
August 19, 2019
Dear Nicole,
Learning of Larry's passing was indeed sad news. On behalf of all the members of the Westwood Senior Men's Club, I can say for certain that he will be missed. Kindly accept my condolences.
Sincerely,
Bob Russell
Mr and Mrs Roy T Lydon
August 18, 2019
Dear Mrs. Coffin and family, we were so sorry to hear of Mr. Coffin's passing..he was always such a lovely man and a true gentleman. Please extend our sympathies to the children as well...Carleton, Robert and Kathryn...they must be all grown up by now..Maura always speaks of them warmly. May all your happy memories keep you smiling when you think of him. Fondly, The Lydon Family, Norwood
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results
Make a Donation
in LAURANCE COFFIN's name
Memorial Events
for LAURANCE COFFIN
Funeral services provided by:
Holden, Dunn & Lawler Funeral Home55 High Rock Street, Westwood, MA 02090
How to support LAURANCE's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor LAURANCE COFFIN's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
