Lawrence Borden

Lawrence Leonard Borden

1917 - 2014 PITTSFIELD Mr. Lawrence Leonard Borden, 97, died peacefully at home with family and caregivers on Saturday, Nov 1st. Born in the small town of Outlook, Wash., on Jan. 27, 1917, he was the son of Charles Leonard Borden and Emelia Hedstrom Borden, originally from Sweden. Growing up with a younger brother, Charles Raymond, a sister, Margaret Elizabeth, and other close relatives, Larry developed a love of the Pacific Ocean shores and Rocky Mountains. He was a 1934 graduate of high school in Montesano, Wash. and worked his way thru Gray's Harbor, Wash. Junior College, graduating in 1940. In 1942 he earned his BSEE from Washington State College, now a University, in Pullman, Wash. As a young man Larry moved east with the opportunity of a life-time and joined General Electric as an Electrical Engineer. He worked at GE in Schenectady, N.Y. from Jan. 1943 June 1958, transferring to Pittsfield, in July 1958. He retired from the GE Naval Ordnance Division in 1979. Larry was an active member of South Congregational Church for more than 50 years, serving as a deacon, volunteering at the St. Joseph Soup Kitchen and in 30 years of retirement, a weekly participant in the Men's Forum lunch group, as well as was an avid Habitat for Humanity volunteer. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge, whose principals guided him thru-out his life in Schenectady, N.Y. for 67 years. He was inducted in the Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi fraternities, earned his Professional Engineering License, and was an I.E.E.E. (engineering) life time member and attended many of the local talks and dinners. His number one interest was family and friends, always eager to learn what each one was doing, eager to lend an ear to share their joys or listen to their troubles when needed, never judging, always encouraging. He really enjoyed being involved in group activities, attending Town Players with friends, neighborhood get-togethers, holidays shared with family and friends. As a young GE engineer he joined the Live Y'ers Club, a couples activity group associated with the YMCA organization, and returned frequently for their reunions at Silver Bay Retreat on Lake George upon retirement, keeping in touch with life-long friends. Larry enjoyed traveling, hiking, photography, gardening, skiing, and sailing. He was a member of the Navy League and Berkshire Power Squadron, and served as the Commodore of the Pontoosuc Sailing Club where he raced his sailboat with his daughter Susan in the 1970s. Larry met Mary-Helen (Peel) Borden, his wife of 46 years, in Schenectady. They were married on June 19, 1948 in Schenectady, N.Y. She predeceased him 20 years ago on Nov 2, 1994. He leaves daughter Nancy and husband, Peter Zawistowski, of North Reading, and daughter Susan and husband, John Davis, of Fairfax, Va.; a grandson, James Lawrence and wife, Ann Clautice Davis' of Jacksonville, Fla.; grand-daughters, Nancy Alice Davis and Christine Elizabeth Davis of Fairfax, Va.; sister-in-law, Pauline Taylor Borden, of Burien, Wash.; three nieces and three nephews and their extended families. FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours will be Wednesday, Nov 5 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME. A funeral will be conducted Thursday, Nov 6 at 11 a.m. at the South Congregational Church, 110 South St. Pittsfield led by the Rev. Joel F. Huntington, pastor. A brief reception will follow the service. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Schenectady, N.Y. Thursday afternoon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Larry's honor to South Congregational Church, Habitat for Humanity, or Washington State University, Foundation, all in care of the WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Please visit www.wellingtonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for the family.