David W. Laurie

David W. Laurie

David Laurie Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 11, 2009.
CATAUMET — David Warren Laurie, 72, died suddenly on Aug. 7, 2009.

Born in Boston on Jan. 25, 1937, the son of the late Andrew S. and Katherine (Tufts) Laurie, he grew up in Wellesley and lived most of his married life in Needham and Wellesley. He was a lifelong summer resident of Cataumet.

A graduate of Brown School, Wellesley, and Rivers School, Weston, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College. He was an insurance underwriter for Royal Globe, First State, CNA and Reliance Insurance companies before retiring to Cape Cod in 1998.

He was a member of the Cataumet Club and served as its treasurer for nearly a decade in the 1970s. He served on the board of directors and taught sailing in the camp as a young man. As a youth, he won the Hurricane Race for the Cataumet Club and played in many of its tennis tournaments, winning the mixed doubles several times as an adult. He also enjoyed golf and sailing.

For nearly 30 years, he coached the Indians Little League baseball team in Wellesley, launching many young men into sports careers in high school and college. The 1967 team attended his wedding in Grafton, holding up new Louisville sluggers as an arch for the entire congregation. Dave was famous for gathering kids with average athletic talent and great enthusiasm and turning them into a dedicated, well-trained team that year after year rose to one of the top two teams in the Wellesley Little League playoffs. Dave continued his coaching in Wethersfield, Conn., after being transferred to Hartford.

In the late 1970s, Dave was recognized as one of the 25 outstanding baseball coaches of the year by Time Magazine in their national Coach of the Year contest.

He served as president of the Wellesley Jaycees and was elected a JCI Senator in 1974. He was co-founder of the Needham Jaycees and championed a successful campaign to elect Royal Switzler as state Jaycee president in 1971. For five years (1984-88), he single-handedly organized and ran with his wife and the Wellesley Jaycees the Alan B. Holbrook Memorial Tennis Tournament for youth ages 10 to 18. It was a major feeder tournament to NELTA junior championship final tournaments each summer.

One of his joys was playing piano. As a youth, his teacher encouraged him to continue studies into professional playing, but Dave enjoyed sports more. He loved reading about the wars and was an avid collector of paperback books on the subject. Another joy was his rose garden, and he became an authority on New England roses. In Wellesley he procured over 40 different types of roses, which were displayed along the driveway on Clifton Road. He was an avid bridge player and taught many people, including his wife, the tricks and innuendos of the game. He joked that it helped him through college.

He was a member of Wellesley Lodge, AF&AM and of Christ Church, United Methodist, Wellesley, where he taught junior high Sunday school and served as treasurer.

He is survived by his children, Bradley K. Laurie of Bristol, Conn., and his wife Kimberly, Katherine L. Angland of Mansfield and her husband Gregory, and John H. Laurie of Sandwich and his wife Alyssa. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; and his former wife, Christina G. Laurie of West Falmouth. He was predeceased by a sister, Janice, in 1950.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Cataumet United Methodist Church, 1093 County Road, Cataumet. A reception will follow.

A private burial will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley.

Donations in David's memory may be made to the Bourne Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 203, Cataumet, MA 02534-0203, or to the Wellesley Little League,,P.O. Box 81960, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.

For online guest book and directions, please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.

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August 12, 2009

Leal Randall posted to the memorial.

August 12, 2009

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August 11, 2009

Ken Keyes posted to the memorial.

6 Entries

Leal Randall

August 12, 2009

I have known David since the late fifties when my family moved to Cataumet. Lucky Dave was my first date for a beach party onLawrence Island and I then drank too much beer and David got home late and protected my identity when Kay blasted him for being late. It is so sad that he is leaving us at such a young age( I was born in 1937 also). Thank goodness he was able to know his grandchildren of whom he was so proud. My condolences to his children.

August 12, 2009

I was a close childhood friend of Dave's when we attended Brown School together. After all these years we met again this spring on Cape Cod with two other childhood friends from Wellesley Hills.
We all enjoyed our luncheon very much. There were so many memories to share. It is with great sadness that we have to accept the news of his passing. Nevertheless, we are all very glad to have had our mini-reunion with Dave at that time. The picture taken of the four of us becomes even more priceless.
Joe Krackeler, Los Altos Hills, California

Ken Keyes

August 11, 2009

Dear Laurie family,

I was very saddened to hear of Mr. Laurie's passing. He was my baseball coach when I played for the Indians in Wellesley. I was 11 and 12 years old and he taught me to love baseball and love sports. He was a great coach who introduced me to enthusiasm and hustle which I carried into all my future sports teams. I still to this day could tell you what our steal signal was. That is the impact he had on my life. I was out with a fellow teammate 2 weeks ago and we talked about Mr. Laurie and how great it was to play for him. I feel so lucky to have had him as my coach and I know my dad, who was his assistant coach, appreciated his dedication and devotion to me, my brother and our team.

I am sure your loss is great and I just wanted to let you know what an impact Mr Laurie had on my life. I had not seen him in a long time, but was saddened to hear of his passing.

Sincerely,
Kenny Keyes

Joanne Coach

August 11, 2009

Dear Laurie family,

I worked with Dave at Reliance Insurance. He was a great man with a kind heart. I'll always remember him and his love of jelly doughnuts!

May fond memories keep him alive in your hearts forever.

Anne Griswold

August 11, 2009

I have fond memories of your father from my days at Reliance Insurance. Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

Frederick Kennett,Jr

August 11, 2009

Dear Laurie Family,

I am saddened your father. I know him. Bless god your family. I meet your father last Dec.
Love
Frederick (Butch)Kennett

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August 12, 2009

Leal Randall posted to the memorial.

August 12, 2009

Someone posted to the memorial.

August 11, 2009

Ken Keyes posted to the memorial.