Lauris Eglitis

Lauris Eglitis, of Westwood, MA passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025, one day shy of his 89th birthday.



Lauris, the eldest son of Alberts and Livija Eglitis, was born in Liepaja, Latvia on March 4, 1936. During his early years, the family lived in several Latvian towns, including Aizpute, Silene, and Vijciems, before fleeing to Germany in 1944 to escape Soviet occupation. After several years in displaced persons camps, the family embarked on a transatlantic journey in 1950, traveling by ship with just two crates aboard the M/V General Sturgis to Boston. With the exception of 2 years in New York and Rhode Island, Massachusetts became home for 75 years.



Lauris graduated from Waltham HS and went on to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. He was also a soldier in The National Guard. Over the course of a distinguished career, Lauris worked as a Project Manager and Chief Structural Engineer, specializing in bridge, tunnel, subway and dam projects. He contributed his expertise to various firms in Boston, earning a reputation for excellence in his field, until retiring in 2005.



In 1962, Lauris married the love of his life, Gunta, in Boston. Their bond was one of deep devotion, marked by daily routines and quiet rituals. Each day, they spent time together - taking walks, tending to their garden, and enjoying their morning coffee and sweets at precisely 9 AM. Lauris traveled to his homeland of Latvia many times, and rejoiced when Latvia regained its independence in 1991. For the past seven decades, Lauris remained an active and dedicated member of the Boston Latvian community. He devoted his time to various volunteer roles, most notably with The Boston Latvian Lutheran Church; ALTS; Fraternitas Metropolitanas; and Piesaule.

In his younger years, Lauris enjoyed skiing; volleyball; tennis and basketball. He was a loyal fan of the Boston Celtics, passionately supporting the team through all 18 championships. He was thrilled to see fellow Latvian and "Liepajnieks" Kristaps Porzingis join the Celtics.



Lauris is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Gunta; his daugther, Liana Eglitis, and her husband, Ivars Kuskevics, of Takoma Park, MD; and his son, Lauris Eglitis, and his wife Susie, of Randolph, NJ. He is also survived by four grandsons - Karlis, Alexander, Vilis and Kristian - who affectionately referred to him as "Opitis". Lauris leaves behind his younger brother, Janis Eglitis, and his wife, Donna, of North Royalton, OH as well as additional relatives in various states and Latvia.



A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Lauris Eglitis to:



Latvian Lutheran Church of Boston

58 Irving Street Brookline, MA 02445