Laurance Elbridge Boyden Jr.

Laurance Elbridge Boyden, Jr., (Larry) 93, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
Larry was born on June 17, 1931, in Evanston, IL. He had an older sister, Mary Priscilla Boyden, and a younger brother John Parker Boyden. Larry grew up in nearby Winnetka, IL, where he attended New Trier High School. While at New Trier he played football and in his senior year became involved with the Naval Reserve.
After High School, Larry attended Miami University where he was a vice president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity as well as 4 academic and professional honor societies. He served in the ROTC, won first place at the Southern Ohio AAU wrestling championship, graduated Cum Laude with honors and was named Outstanding Graduate.
Following college Larry joined the Army. He graduated from Infantry Officers Candidate School (OCS) and was a First Lieutenant and Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps in which capacity he served in West Germany. He was awarded the "National Defense Service Medal" for his service.
Larry met his first wife Phyllis while both were in the military, and their first child, David Laurance Boyden was born in Germany.
After returning to the U.S. Larry and Phyllis had two more sons (Donald Philip and James Harvey) and a daughter (Patricia Lynn).
Larry eventually settled in the Boston area and pursued a successful career in the insurance and banking industry, becoming the president of Massachusetts General Life Insurance Company before he turned 40, and winning multiple sales leadership awards. In addition to his business accomplishments Larry had a continuous involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, including being the President of the New England Area Boy Scouts. For his dedication and service to the Boy Scouts he was awarded both the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope. He was a deacon at his local church, active in town governance, and worked with various civic groups.
Larry enjoyed running and tennis. He spent his summers on Chebeague Island in Maine where he competed in sailboat racing, including the Monhegan Island Race.
Larry eventually moved to South Florida where he had a successful career in finance and investments.
Even in retirement Larry continued to serve his community. He was named volunteer of the year by the Delray Beach Police Department, was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery, and was a proud member of the Above and Beyond Community Church of Boca Raton. He regularly volunteered to speak with incarcerated men at a local maximum security prison as part of Kairos Prison Ministry International. He volunteered with the Red Cross for more than 11 years, including working in Mississippi to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. In 2009 Larry was awarded the Presidents Call to Service Award, the nation's highest recognition for his lifetime of service by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Larry was always very proud of his family and he enjoyed being involved with them even as their careers and lives took them to the four corners of the nation. In his later years he had the luxury of living close to his son Jim, and being able to spend time with Jim, his wife Sabina, and his grandson Jack.
Larry was a force of nature. When he entered a room you knew it. The stories his children tell of "Adventures with Larry" document a life well lived and a man well loved.
Larry was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Priscilla. He is survived by his younger brother John Parker Boyden (a decorated Viet Nam combat veteran and career Naval officer who is now an avid fly fisherman and photographer), his first wife Phyllis Boyden, his children David Laurance Boyden, Donald Philip Boyden, Patricia Lynn Boyden-Bye, James Harvey Boyden, and four grand children: Thomas Boyden, Julie Boyden, Michael Boyden, and Jack Boyden
A Memorial Service will be held at the All County Funeral Home, 1107 Lake Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460. Please call 561.533.8878 for details. All County Funeral Home | Lake Worth, FL