Lawrence Odence

Lawrence N. Odence of Newton and Cotuit, MA, and formerly of Moorestown, NJ, died peacefully on May 29, 2025, after a few months of struggle with respiratory issues. In his final days, Larry, who surprised himself by carrying on for near 96 years old, deeply appreciated the remarkable care he received from the doctors and nursing staff at Falmouth Hospital.

His parents, Marion and Meyer Odence, raised Larry and his brother Gates in Newton and Cotuit. He graduated from MIT and, after a stint as an officer in the US Army, earned an MBA at the Wharton School. During a thirty-year career exporting minerals, he traveled the world and built lasting friendships with international colleagues, particularly in Europe and Brazil. After retiring at 57, he professionally consulted to those friends for about a decade.

Larry's heart was always in Cotuit. There, he met summer kid Susie Bernard who became his wife of more than 60 years until her death. It was years before that, at age nine, that he fell in love with Cotuit Skiffs. That affair and his lasting, powerful influence on the Cotuit Mosquito Yacht Club continued until his death and beyond. The last time he competed in a Skiff race was in 2023; as a nonagenarian he often finished mid-fleet but once pulled off a third. Not bad. One of Larry's most proud accomplishments was writing and publishing, "Mosquito Boats: The First 100 Year of the Cotuit Skiff," an amazing history of the boat, the club and summer Cotuit.

An icon of the village, Larry drew together a remarkable range of loving friends in Cotuit across multiple generations with many of whom he dined out on a nightly basis. His perfect days involved boats, walks in the woods, holding court at Riley's Beach and evenings out for a scotch and dinner. In recent years he enjoyed all those activities most with his closest companion, Ann Leahy, who was at his side to the last.

Larry couldn't have been prouder of his family comprising children Robin Grimes and Philip, spouses Beth and Addison (an amazing help in Larry's final months) and his and Susie's five favorite granddaughters Clarissa and Charlotte Odence, Adriana (Martin), Meredith, and Julia Grimes. He had a unique and special relationship with each.

Details will be announced of a celebration of life on July 5. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Cotuit Federated Church, Susie's alma mater Sweet Briar College (in her memory), the Cotuit Library or the Association of the Cotuit Mosquito Yacht Club.