Lauren "Larry" P. Breakiron

Larry Breakiron passed away peacefully in his home in Gilbert, AZ, on March 8, 2022, at age 91. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on September 14, 1930, and attended Bucknell University, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Glee Club. He then served as a Sergeant in the US Army Transportation Corps as an instructor in marine engineering. Larry went on to earn his BS in Mechanical Engineering and MS in Industrial Engineering at Columbia University. While at Columbia, he met the artistic and vivacious Margit Turner, whom he shared over fifty years of marriage until her death ten years ago.

He started his business career in industrial engineering at Colgate-Palmolive, followed by a stint as a management consultant at Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell. He then joined United Parcel Service (UPS), and over twenty-two years, he became a senior vice president and served on the company’s board of directors. UPS expanded significantly during his tenure, and for his role in establishing the company’s new hub in Louisville, KY, he was named a Kentucky Colonel. Together with Margit, he enjoyed the Kentucky Derby on several occasions.

He and his family lived in Manhasset, NY, and Riverside, CT, where he was an avid sailor and golfer, belonging to the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club and North Hempstead, and later the Riverside Yacht Club and Greenwich Country Club. Starting in the 1960s, he often took his family on sailing trips to Nantucket; he fell in love with the island and, in the mid-’80s, purchased a home on the island that has served as a summer gathering place for an expanding number of family members. At age fifty, he wanted a shorter commute for weekends on Nantucket, so he studied to become a licensed pilot and flew his single-engine plane to spend time with his family on Nantucket. He was an active member of the Nantucket Yacht Club, Sankaty Head Golf Club, and the First Congregational Church on the island.

After retiring from UPS, Larry used his leadership skills on the board of the United Way chapter in Connecticut and later served as the President of the Nantucket Land Council. While at the helm of the Land Council, the amount of open space preserved as conservation land expanded so that over 50 percent of the island is now protected for enjoyment by future generations.

As a proponent of engineering education, Larry served on the board of trustees of Bucknell for many years, and he was presented with an honorary doctorate for his service to the 2CBucknell, created a scholarship fund, and was also a major supporter of a new engineering building on campus, which is named in his honor.

Larry and Margit traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, South America, Cuba, and Barbuda – where they vacationed with friends for many years. A most memorable trip was the multi-generation African safari Larry organized for his children and grandchildren to Kenya one year. He and brother Skip also looked forward to their annual trek to Augusta, GA, for the Master’s Golf Tournament

Larry leaves behind his brother Lloyd (Skip) Breakiron, daughter Lauren Breakiron Gudonis and her husband Paul R. Gudonis; son Craig Breakiron; grandchildren Eden Davies, Dorthea Gudonis, Peter Gudonis, Scott Breakiron, Heather Breakiron, and Andrew Breakiron; and eight great-grandchildren, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00, on Saturday, March 26th at the Second Congregational Church in Greenwich, CT, with burial at Putnam Cemetery. A Memorial Service for him will be held for family and friends on his beloved Nantucket Island this summer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Nantucket Land Council, 6 Ash Lane, Nantucket, MA 02554.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leopgallaghergreenwich.com for the Breakiron family.