Lawrence F. Boland

Lawrence Francis Boland, 94, passed away on March 2, 2011 at The Highlands at Wyomissing. A Wyomissing resident for 39 years, he was the son of Thomas and Gertrude (Flanagan) Boland, of Robesonia. Lawrence was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Lou (Lebengood) on April 29, 2010.

Lawrence was a Mount Penn High School graduate at age 16 and attended the University of Pennsylvania in 1933-34 before transferring to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He left Catholic U three credits short of a degree to work with Beryllium Corporation on metallurgical projects for the Defense Department and the U.S. Air Force as a civilian. He was instrumental in the development of the beryllium copper alloy trigger for the first atomic bomb deployed in World War II. In 1946, he was the recipient of honorary wings from the USAF for his research of weapons and aircraft design. He remained employed by the Beryllium Corporation for 38 years, and was the Executive Vice-President at the time of his retirement in 1971. Lawrence frequently traveled to Washington D.C. on defense contracting matters, and helped found the nuclear division of Berylco in 1957.

Following his retirement from Berylco (now NGK Metals), Lawrence was President of Intercontinental Wire Company in Robesonia. He was also a financial and business advisor, and later in retirement he provided pro bono business-consulting services for Berks County's SCORE.

Lawrence served on the Board of St. Joseph's Hospital. He served on the committee to build the new church at St. Margaret Parish in Reading. He was a lifelong member of The Friends of the Robesonia Furnace. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus, The National Sales Executives Club, The Reading-Berks Chamber of Commerce, The Manufacturers Association of Berks County, The American Ordnance Association, The Society for Advancement of Management, the American Arbitration Association, and the Copper and Brass Warehouse Association. In addition he was a sixty-five year member of the American Society of Metallurgists.

Lawrence was a long time member of The Berkshire Country Club. He was an avid Phillies fan. He looked forward to summer trips to Ocean City NJ when his children were young. In his later years he cherished family reunions and holiday dinners. He spent many evenings playing pinochle with his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved the music of big band leaders, Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. He relished the St.Patrick's Day holiday and was an excellent singer of Irish folk songs.

He was an astute investor in the stock market, and in his spare time enjoyed numismatics, rare coins and stamps. He followed national and world politics and read various newspapers daily. He was the Berks County chairman of the Committee to Elect Bill Scranton governor.

Lawrence is survived by sons Lawrence Flanagan Boland, Philippi, WV; Attorney J. Patrick Boland, of Los Angeles, CA; Attorney Michael C. Boland, and his wife, Kathleen, Flying Hills; and Stephen E. Boland, and his wife Marit, New York, NY, and a daughter, Elizabeth A., wife of Michael Fedorowich, Spring Township.

Lawrence was the proud grandfather of ten grandchildren: Snow, Summer, Spring, Jonathan, Colleen, Michael F., Olivia, Katherine, Julia and August; and three great-grandchildren: Alan, Jordan and Jurni.

Larry is also survived by a sister, Rita Gery, of Delaware County and was predeceased by eleven other siblings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 7, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Resurrection at the Gethsemane Cemetery, Laureldale, with interment to follow. Friends may call on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, who is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.