Waterford – Lawrence “Larry” Magee, of Waterford, passed away March 5, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born Nov. 3, 1949, in Holden, Mass., he was the son of Leon Magee and Virginia Magee (née Clapp).
Larry married Donna Magee (née Cram) March 29, 1975, in New London. Together they raised two children, Bonnie and Leon, while living in Waterford. They shared many years of marriage until her passing March 24, 2012.
He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and later was a member of the Army National Guard. While in the Guard, he served with AVCRAD in Groton, where he became highly skilled in working on helicopters. His mechanical knowledge and experience as a machinist made him especially well suited to the work. He took great pride in his work with the helicopters, and his favorite to work on was the Huey.
Larry worked at Electric Boat for over 50 years, ultimately becoming a senior tech specialist in mechanical design. He was highly skilled at solving complex problems and was always willing to lend his knowledge and experience to others. He began his career at EB as an outside machinist before being accepted into the apprenticeship program, where he transitioned to inside machinist. He graduated at the top of his apprenticeship class and was then offered a position in mechanical design. From there, he continued to advance through the department, eventually reaching the position of senior tech specialist in mechanical design.
An accomplished machinist, Larry had a deep passion for metal lathes and collected many throughout his life. He would sometimes take long road trips simply to purchase a new lathe, always excited to discover another machine to add to his collection. He was also an avid collector of antique tools and had a lifelong fascination with how things worked. He especially enjoyed learning the history behind the tools, machines, and crafts that captured his interest.
Larry had a strong interest in boating, especially canoes and kayaks, and also enjoyed sailing. His interest in boating and woodworking led him to become a member of the Traditional Small Craft Association (John Gardner Boat Club chapter).
He had a lifelong interest in bicycles and cycling as well. He often bicycled to work and enjoyed riding from his home in Waterford to Harkness Park. With his friend Matty, he also biked from Manchester, to the Expo 67 World’s Fair in Montreal when Larry was just 17 years old. He continued to enjoy bicycling throughout his life, including in his more recent years.
Larry was involved in many other organizations, including the Mystic Seaport, the Custom House Maritime Museum, and Friends of Harkness.
Larry is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Magee of Waterford; his son, Leon Magee and his wife Maryana of San Diego, Calif.; his sisters, Trudy Alduk of Uncasville, Katrina Spanos of Preston and her husband Ted Spanos; and his nephews, Ron and Ken Gravell. He will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his work and the many interests he pursued throughout his life.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and a service is planned to begin at 5 p.m