Obituaries

This section is dedicated to alumni who have died since 2018.

James C. Dybes, Jr. ’46 passed away on Oct. 16, 2020 at Scripps Green Hospital in San Diego, Calif. He enlisted in the army after graduating from LA and served in Japan during the Occupation as the editor of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. After his tour of duty, he received a B.A. in education from Boston University, and eventually a master’s degree in education.

Moving from West Roxbury to San Diego in the early 1960s with his wife Marilyn, James taught in the Diego city schools for 30 years. After Marilyn’s passing, James married Jean Dybes and they spent 17 wonderful years together enjoying music and world travel. James had many interests, including flying single-propeller airplanes and private jets, USO volunteer work, reading, jazz events, tennis, fishing in San Diego and Mexico, automobiles, technology and current events. He resided in Carlsbad, Calif. until his death.

In addition to his wife, James is survived by a son, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Thomas A. Moore ’47 passed away at age 93 on April 25, 2018, at his home in Alamogordo, N.M. He was active in the community and a member of Saint Jude’s Catholic Church. A veteran of World War II, he graduated from Boston College in 1951with a bachelor’s degree in physics.

Tom retired from civil service, in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1986. His work involved electronic engineering in the fields of radar, transponders, communications, navigation, and survey with electronic position fixing equipment. With four U.S. patents to his credit, he was a recognized authority in the radar-transponder field. He published in Proceedings and presented over 35 papers at conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In retirement, Tom was active with the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Loyal Order of Moose. He also did volunteer work for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity. He also authored two books, When the Sacred Marriage Ends and Veteran and Fraternal Clubs at Bay.

Tom is survived by one sister, two sons, three grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren

Paul Leo Flynn, Sr. ’48 died on June 17, 2020, at age 91. A graduate of Fordham University, he was the retired owner of Stop Loss Insurance Brokers in Boston. He worked for the city of Boston for 60 years and knew every shop owner, police officer, and neighbor. He was always impeccably dressed and known for his pocket squares and colorful ties, and he greeted everyone with a smile and a kind word.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Leonard Flynn, as well as four children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One daughter, Lisa Flynn, predeceased him.

David T. Zussman ’49 passed away at his residence in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on May 5, 2021. He was 90 years old. A graduate of Tufts University, with graduate work at NYU business school and the Harvard School of Design, he was a leader and pioneer in residential and commercial real estate. He founded Creative Builders, which became Boston Development Group (BDG) in 1956, and he was the first to convert apartments into condominiums, winning 10 national awards for excellence in design, construction and development. In 1975, David created First General Realty Corp., a management and leasing company that manages Boston Development Group’s diverse portfolio of buildings. His firm has developed, constructed, marketed, and managed apartments, condominiums, offices, hotels, senior communities, and retail spaces along the East Coast of the United States from Buffalo, N.Y. to Florida. His philanthropy has touched many people. David is survived by his wife of 64 years, Randy (Kliger) Zussman, as well as his children and grandchildren.

Joseph A. Zanni ’54 passed away on Feb. 2, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. He was 85. In addition to his wife Sylvia (MacMillan), to whom he was married for 62 years, he leaves three sons, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, as well as two brothers and two sisters. One brother, Dominick Zanni, predeceased him.

Irving D. (Sonny) Weiner ’56 died on Aug. 9. 2020, after a brief illness. He was 85. Sonny was a football standout, both at Lawrence and at Northeastern University; he later earned a B.S. in accounting at Bentley College. Following an early career as a CPA, he owned and operated a successful retail business on the South Shore for over 30 years, retiring in the mid-2000s. Always generous to family and friends, Sonny contributed to over 35 charities each year, many of which supported the humane treatment of animals.

He leaves his significant other, Sheila Byers, as well as a daughter, Christine Bielakowski, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

Neil Wiener ’58 died in Los Angeles on March 18, 2019, at age 78. After graduating from Lawrence, he earned a BA from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. in psychology from New York University. After a post-doctoral year at the University of California, San Diego, he joined the psychology department at York University in Toronto. Neil was a dedicated and creative teacher and researcher for over 40 years, focused on issues related to the biological basis of behavior. A kind friend and colleague, Neil was also an avid and eclectic reader, particularly enjoying poetry and all aspects of history, and he loved gardens, art, and music.

In addition to Myra, his wife of 52 years, Neil is survived by a son, three grandchildren, a sister, two nephews, and a brother-in-law.

Charles J. “Jack” Remien ’60, of Plymouth, Minn., passed away peacefully on Feb. 22, 2019, after a brave battle with neuromuscular illness. He was 76 at the time of his passing. After college, Jack settled in Minneapolis, where he began a long and successful career in food service distribution and manufacturing. He held top-level management positions, most notably as president of the Plymouth, Minn., Division of PYA/ Monarch, Inc. It was at Monarch that he met Eunice, the love of his life, to whom he was married for 19 years. She survives him, along with two stepchildren, three step-grandchildren, a sister and a stepbrother, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Philip D. Berry ’64, of Groton, formerly of Ayer, died on Jan. 16, 2020 at the Pat Roche Hospice House, Hingham, Mass. after a lengthy illness. He was 73. After Lawrence, Phil continued his education at the University of Alabama, Babson College and later Bryant University. For over 30 years, he owned and operated Carlin’s Tavern in downtown Ayer. He enjoyed golfing.

Phil leaves his wife of 18 years, Christine, a son, David Berry ’88 of Harvard; a daughter, Leslie D. Bridges ’93 of Dunellon, Fla.; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Lester W. “Sonny” Berry.

Bill Aldrich ’65 died in January, 2021 in Shelburne, Vt. An accomplished athlete at Lawrence, he was inducted into the LA Athletic Hall of Fame for his tennis prowess during the team’s undefeated 1965 season. After serving in the Marine Corps and studying at Parsons College, Bill moved from Boston to the Champlain Valley, where he shared his passion for boats and his commitment to service by joining the Antique Boat Society, Lake Champlain Chapter, serving on the board of governors of Lake Champlain Yacht Club, and proudly volunteering for the North Country Honor Flight Foundation. While his boats were recognized for their meticulous preservation, particularly his 1963 Chris Craft Sea Skiff Miss Magic, he showed tireless effort in his support for veterans.

Bill is survived by his daughter Alexandra; his son-in-law, Renier van Breen, and three grandsons, as well as one brother, and many friends and members of his extended family. Ted (Theo) Tracy ’66 passed away on Oct. 21, 2019, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after a short but courageous fight with leukemia. He was 72. Athlete, glee club President, and member of the band at LA, he was also a student councilor for two years.

After graduating from Boston College, ‘Ted’, as he was known at LA, began a long and successful career in the sales and marketing branch of the newspaper industry, including a long stint with the New York Times. During his tenure with that paper, he moved to the greater Los Angeles area to open remote printing and distribution sites for the company. Ted returned to New York again and lived in Darien, Conn., for many years until his retirement. In his “retirement” years he worked as a consultant to a newspaper publisher in the Boston area. After moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, he ran his own marketing consulting practice with two other local associates, concentrating on online sales and distribution as a consultant in the craft beer industry.

Ted is survived by his wife of 40 years, Emma (Egbert), as well as by a daughter and a son, and six siblings — including Bob Tracy ’71 — and 13 nieces and nephews.

Brian Cassidy ’69, of Lincoln, Mass., passed away on July 28, 2021. A graduate of UMass Lowell with a degree in electrical engineering, he was owner and business manager of the Cassidy Water Conditioning Franchise of Culligan USA, which he helped found in 1968 along with his father in Lowell, Mass. Brian was extremely dedicated to the business and felt that his team at work was his extended family.

He is survived by his brother Terence, a niece, a nephew, and their families.

David Pickering ’72 died on May 3, 2021. A winner of the Pillsbury Prize for Character and Conduct at his LA graduation, he went on to own a florist business in Portsmouth, N.H., which was the start of his life-long green thumb. David’s career path eventually led to a division head position at Gillette in South Boston. The respect and admiration of everyone he worked with came easily due to his management style and work ethic. David raised his family in Kennebunk, Maine, before retiring to Harpswell Neck. An athlete and a lifelong sailor, he could often be found on the hockey rink, on the golf course or on Casco Bay piloting his boat On the Blue. David was a past commodore of the Arundel Yacht Club in Kennebunkport and was on the board there for eight years. In the winter he dedicated time serving the Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation Ski Program at Sunday River.

He is survived by Jennifer Williams Pickering, his wife of 40 years; two sons and two grandsons; and a sister and many other relatives.

Elizabeth Baily (Haines) Hatch ’86 died on Aug.10, 2020, after a long illness. She had many passions, including a love of gardening, cooking and baking homemade breads. She was an avid reader, and loved crossword puzzles and watching horror films. She was an extremely talented musician, writing her own music and lyrics on both guitar and the piano.

Baily leaves her two children, Ellis Hatch and Shane Hatch, as well as her mother and stepfather, her brother, Mark Haines ’82, two sisters and their families; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, William Haines.

Andrei Romanov ’03 died in an accident on June 16, 2021. He had jumped into the East River in New York City to retrieve a volleyball.

IN MEMORIAM

Alumni who died more than three years ago

John T. “Jack” Weathers ’54 of Bridgewater passed away on April 15, 2012, after a long illness. A graduate of Boston College and Northeastern University, he served as a medic in the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division after graduation. He enjoyed a 38-year career with Polaroid Corporation; in his spare time, he was a co-founder and longtime coach of Brockton, Mass., Youth Hockey. At the time of his passing, Jack left his wife Jeanne (Heyner), three children, five grandchildren, and many extended family members.

Challenge Complete!

The 2020/2021 Reunion Challenge

As part of the virtual LA reunions, the LA alumni advancement team provided some fun and friendly competition by creating the 2020/2021 Reunion Challenge. The 2020 challenge was created for the reunion classes ending in 0s and 5s, and the 2021 challenge was created for the reunion classes ending in 1s and 6s. The results of each of these challenges are below. The Alumni Trustee New Donor Challenge

To secure and advance the future of Lawrence Academy and to expand the base of alumni support, the LA Alumni Trustees pledged a one-time challenge gift of $25,000 to support LA financial aid if 520 new alumni donors joined them by June 30, 2021. With 60 percent of the goal achieved, LA alumni showed amazing support for this initiative. The four classes with the highest numbers of new donors are below.

Most LA Fund Dollars Raised (top two): 1970 – $78,309 • 1975 – $7,712

2020 Reunion Challenge 2021 Reunion Challenge Alumni Trustee New Donor ChallengeMost LA Fund Dollars Raised (top two): 1966 – $81,300 • 1976 – $56,550 Winning Classes:

Most LA Fund Donors (top two): 1970 – 31 • 2015 – 21

Percentage of New (one or more years lapsed) LA Fund Donors (top two): 1945 – 33% • 2000 – 15% Most LA Fund Donors: 1981 – 12 • 1986 – 11 • 2016 – 11

Percentage of New LA Fund Donors (top two): 1966 – 15% • 1951 – 13% 1983 – 22

2000 – 14

1987 – 13

1982 – 12

Top Number of Class Notes: 1975 – 10 Top Number of Class Notes: 2016 – 62