Lawrence Joseph Graff, Jr., affectionately known as Larry, died on Saturday, December 22, 2018 after a four-month struggle with congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease. At the time of his death he was surrounded by his loving wife, his children and grandchildren, and his two-month-old great-grandson.

Larry was born on April 11, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he grew up. A devout Catholic, upon his graduation from West Catholic High School for Boys in 1946 he took the vows to become a member of the church's order of Christian Brothers. He then graduated from Catholic University of America with a major in Physics and a minor in Philosophy and taught Mathematics and Physics in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.

Larry left the Christian Brothers and took a position at the Insurance Company of North America. He met his wife, Kay, there in 1958 when she joined him in the Actuarial Department after graduating from Wellesley College. They married in 1959.

Larry was a devoted family man. He and Kay had three children: Mary Helen Graff Corell of Billerica, MA, Katherine Graff McNierney of Groton, MA, and James F. Graff of Birdsboro, PA. They were joined by fourteen grandchildren and, recently, a beautiful great-grandson. Larry followed their lives with great interest and was always available to give support and advice.

Larry stayed at the Insurance Company of North America until he was 55 years old, seeing the company through its merger with Connecticut General to become Cigna Corporation. He became a Vice President of the company in charge of the administration of the Group Department. Upon his retirement he returned to teaching Mathematics, Physics, and Accounting at the Devon Preparatory School for Boys in Devon, PA where he also served as their Dean of Students. His nickname there was "Polar Bear" because of his white hair, and the boys affectionately called him "Poppa Bear".

In 2007, Larry and Kay moved from the Philadelphia area to Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, MA, and Larry immediately became involved in a variety of community activities including the Garden Club, the Bridge Club, the Library, the General Store, the Employee Appreciation Committee, and the Excess Baggage Sale. He was also available to help fellow residents with their computers and their televisions.

Larry had a long and wonderful life, and he will be sorely missed. Services for him and his burial will take place in the spring at Old St. David's Church in Wayne, PA. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Carleton-Willard Village Employee Appreciation Fund or the Carleton-Willard Village Resident Reserve Fund, both at Carleton-Willard Village, 100 Old Billerica Road, Bedford, MA 01730.