Dr. Lawrence R. Byron Jr. EdD

DR. LAWRENCE R. BYRON JR.,EdD – in Woburn, Monday, March 14th, beloved husband of Mary E. (McGowan) Byron. Devoted father of Maureen E. Fregeolle and her husband Gerard of ME, Ann L. Killilea of Woburn and her late husband George, Lawrence R. Byron III and his wife Linda of Reading and Jane A. Lowell and her husband Peter of Woburn. Dear brother of Mary B. Burke of Medford and Joan Merrow of CT. Loving grandfather of Amy Patrissi and her husband Christian, Maura A. Agnelli and her husband Joseph, Robert Fregeolle, Dr. Kathleen Killilea MD and her fiancee Samantha Stanley, Megan Killilea and her fiancee Daniel Richmond, Hannah Byron, Shalen and Stephanie Lowell and great grandaughter Clara Patrissi. A Funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, March 18th at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Donations may be made in Dr. Byron’s memory to the Woburn Memorial High School Scholarship Fund, PO Box, 202, Woburn, MA 01801 or to the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, c/o VNA of Middlesex East, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880.

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OBITUARY:

Dr. Lawrence R. Byron Jr., a lifelong resident and icon of education in Woburn, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 14th at the age of eighty-six. An East Woburn native, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Bertha (McCall) Byron. Dr. Byron attended the Woburn Public Schools and was a graduate of Woburn High School, Class of 1942. He went on to attend St. John’s Prep and Boston College, where he received his Bachelors Degree. Upon graduation from Boston College, he began his career in education at the Woburn Junior High School. In his desire to broaden his scope of education, he transferred to the elementary level and taught at the Linscott and Hanson Schools. In 1956, he was appointed Principal of the new Malcolm S. White School where he remained for twenty-five years after which he was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum. In his quest for excellence, he furthered his education at Tufts Graduate School of Education, Boston College Graduate School of Education and later earned his Doctoral Degree in education from Nova Southeastern University.

Wherever his assignment, it soon became apparent his innate desire was to develop every child to their true potential. He loved the interaction with his pupils and staff. Over the course of his distinguished career, he embraced the job of Assistant Superintendent tirelessly, and as a result he earned the respect of the pupils, parents and staff members. In 1986, Dr. Byron retired after thirty-nine years of dedicated public service.

After his retirement, he and his wife, Mary, to whom he was devoted for fifty-nine years, traveled extensively throughout the world. They also spent a great deal of time at their “home away from home”, the Eagle’s Nest, in York Maine. Throughout his life, his desire to learn never waned. He continued to take on new challenges such as learning to play musical instruments and delving into the arts. In later years, the focus of his enjoyment was centered around his grandchildren. Grandpa, as he was affectionately called, cherished sharing in all of their activities and accomplishments.

Perhaps Dr. Byron will best be remembered by his dedication to public education, but his love for his family and many friends will be everlasting in their hearts.

Dr. Byron was a longtime member of the NEA and the Boston College Alumni Association.

Dr. Byron was predeceased by his son-in-law, George Killilea.

He is lovingly survived by his wife, Mary E. (McGowan) Byron, his children, Maureen E. Fregeolle and her husband Gerard of ME, Ann L. Killilea of Woburn, Lawrence R. Byron III and his wife Linda of Reading and Jane A. Lowell and her husband Peter of Woburn, his sisters, Mary B. Burke of Medford and Joan Merrow of CT, his cherished grandchildren, Amy Patrissi and her husband Christian, Maura A. Agnelli and her husband Joseph, Robert Fregeolle, Dr. Kathleen Killilea MD and her fiancee Samantha Stanley, Megan Killilea and her fiancee Daniel Richmond, Hannah Byron, Shalen and Stephanie Lowell and great grandaughter Clara Patrissi. A Funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, March 18th at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Donations may be made in Dr. Byron’s memory to the Woburn Memorial High School Scholarship Fund, PO Box, 202, Woburn, MA 01801 or to the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, c/o VNA of Middlesex East, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880.