WESTFIELD: Laurence N. Brady of Westfield passed away Monday, January 18, 2021, at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke with his daughters at his side. He was born in Boston on March 12, 1934, to Philip and Margaret (Gilchrist) Brady and grew up in East Bridgewater. Larry met his wife of 65 years, Mary (Carlisle),
while they were students at Bridgewater State College. They married in 1955 and later settled in Westfield where they became elementary school teachers. Both completed Master’s Degrees at Westfield State College. Larry taught fifth and sixth grade at Fort Meadow, Washington Street, and Juniper Park Elementary Schools prior to becoming the principal of Highland Elementary School for over 20 years. He taught college writing classes and trained numerous student teachers during his career. Larry served his country in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960 and was deployed to Korea. Upon his return from Korea, he transferred to the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing based in Westfield. He served in the Guard from 1960 to 1987, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. While on active duty, he proudly served on United States bases around the world including Phalsbourg, France during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. Larry was a long-time member of the Western Hampden Historical Society and volunteered tirelessly at the Dewey House. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Westfield and a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. Larry enjoyed restoring antique cars and was honored to chauffeur veterans in his 1935 Ford Cabriolet in the Westfield Memorial Day Parade. Larry’s many hobbies included carpentry, woodworking, quilting, and studying Spanish. He enjoyed music, reading, and traveling, especially to York and Kennebunkport, ME, Anna Maria Island, FL, Bermuda, and London. A lifelong Red Sox fan, Larry loved attending games at Fenway Park, and he delighted in watching his grandson play in Little League, Babe Ruth, and in high school. His greatest joy was being a grandfather. He lived a good life based on the United States Air Force core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.
Larry is survived by his daughter Kathleen Brady of Jessup, Maryland; his daughter Susan Brady, son-in-law Michael Roundy, and grandson David Roundy of Westfield; his sister Rosemary Brady of Florida; his sisters-in-law Amy Carlisle and Pat Wood of Arizona; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Larry was predeceased by his wife, Mary, his brothers Philip, John, and Henry, and his brother-in-law David Carlisle. The family extends special thanks to the extraordinary staffs at the Holyoke Medical Center Veterans’ Unit and the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home for Larry’s care.
Funeral and burial services are private. Arrangements are under the direction of Firtion Adams Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s memory may be made to The Dewey House, PO Box 256, Westfield, MA 01086, or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Saint Mary’s Church, 30 Bartlett Street, Westfield, MA 01085.
